Korea proposes to build Metrorail in Chattogram

PPP poses ever highest performance in taping investment under the leadership of Sultana Afroz

Zarif Mahmud: South Korea proposed to invest in the construction of a metro rail in the port city on the basis of public-private partnership (PPP). According to the proposal, they also expressed interest in starting the survey work soon.
Metrorail is going to be in Chattogram port city with special interest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Feasibility study is being discussed in this regard.
The investment was proposed at the 4th Bangladesh-Korea Joint PPP Platform Meeting in Seoul, South Korea on March 2. The meeting was attended by a five-member delegation led by Secretary Sultana Afroz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PPP Authority of Bangladesh. The delegation included RAJUK Chairman ABM Aminullah Noori, Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO), Kauser Amir Ali, Joint Secretary, Power Department
Managing Director (MD), Nazmul Abedin, PPP Director General Abul Bashar. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmed Kaikaustook part in the meeting virtually. On behalf of the South Korean government, the meeting was attended by relevant officials from the country, led by Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Seon On Un.
The project was proposed by both the countries on the basis of demand. Four projects were proposed by South Korea for investment there. These included constructions of Metrorail in Chittagong, water demand reduction at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Solar PPP project and 71 Gulshan Avenue and the Development of Banani Community Center project.
On the other hand, Bangladesh also proposed to South Korea to invest in four projects. These included the construction of high-rise buildings to alleviate the housing crisis for upper, middle and low-income people, the construction of a multipurpose water terminal, the construction of a multipurpose terminal at Mongla Port, the construction of equipment and yards, and the development of a Payra port.
The PPP has strengthened the long-term and reliable partnership between Bangladesh and Korea, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Sion On Un said at the meeting. As a result, four infrastructural PPP projects for roads, bridges, railways and transmission lines have been selected through a joint PPP platform for further cooperation between South Korea and Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Secretary Sultana Afroz expressed her gratitude to South Korea’s Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). He briefly described the various incentives of the Government of Bangladesh for foreign investors. The Secretary also highlighted the favorable technical, legal and social environment prevailing in the country for the expansion of foreign investment through public-private partnership.
Sultana Afroz, CEO of PPP Authority, told that even in the Covid-19 situation, we will do our best to create new projects in the infrastructure industry development of Bangladesh and expand the business. The meeting discussed the possibility of investing in various sectors such as textiles, tourism, health and many more.
She said South Korea had announced an investment of $600 million to build a underground power line in the new town of Purbachal. They have also offered to invest in the construction of metro rail in Chittagong. Recently, the Chittagong City Corporation (CHC) informed that a time limit of 18 months has been fixed to complete the survey for construction of Metrorail in Chittagong. Tk 7 crore has been spent for the survey. Of this, Korea wants to conduct the survey with a grant of Tk 51 crore. The government will have to pay the remaining Tk 26 crore for the survey.
The construction of this infrastructure was also discussed in Chittagong in the interest of the Prime Minister while the construction work of Metrorail in Dhaka was going on. The pre-qualification survey was conducted through a consulting firm two and a half years ago.
At that time there was talk of constructing three Metrorail routes (MRT lines) in Chittagong, the length of which stood at 54 and a half kilometers. These included MRT Line-1 from Kalurghat to the airport (26 km length, 20 stations); Line-2 (13 km length, 12 stations) from City Gate to the ground floor of Shah Amanat Bridge via Nimtala and Line-3 (length 14 km, 15 stations) from Oxygen to Firingibazar and Panchlaish to AK Khan Gate.
The potential cost of setting up a metro rail line per kilometer is said to be Tk 1,545 crore.
According to PPP platform meeting sources, Korea wants to invest the entire amount spent on construction of metro rail in Chittagong.
However, Chinese state-owned enterprises have already expressed interest in building a metro rail in the port city. Chinese Railway Construction Company Limited (CRCC) has proposed to the government to explore the feasibility of a mega project of Metrorail in Chittagong. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. Although in this proposal they wanted to implement one more project. That is, they want to make Mirsarai a smart city on the Bay of Bengal starting from the bay terminal of Chittagong port.
The shipbreaking industrial area of Sitakunda will be left out in the middle. Like the developed cities of the world including UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, this smart city will have advanced facilities including hotels and motels. The Chinese company will share the revenue from the Smart City project with the Bangladesh government as per the agreement.
However, in the midst of the talks with China, the South Korean development agency Koika expressed its interest in the project. Finally, at a meeting of the PPP platform, the Korean government offered to invest in the project. It is possible to transport about 60 thousand passengers per hour According to the pre-qualification survey report, the maximum speed of Metrorail will be 100 kmph and the average speed will be 45 kmph. A 20 km long MRT can carry about 60,000 passengers per hour on both sides.
The report proposed 20 stations on MRT Line-1. These are: Kalurghat, Kaptai Road Head, Chandgaon CNB Bus Stop, Hajera-Taju Degree College, Bahaddarhat, Kapasgola, Chawkbazar, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Road, Lalkhanbazar, Dewanhat, Agrabad Access Road, Barik Building, Nimtali, Salting Crossing, Steel Mill Bus-Stop, Patenga, Patenga Beach and Airport.
Twelve stations are proposed on MRT Line-2. These are: City Gate, Colonel Hat Gate, Ake Khan Bus Stop, Saraipara, Nayabazar, Agrabad Access Road, Port New Market, Nimtali, Barik Building, Sadarghat, Firingibazar and Shaheed Bashiruzzaman Square.
15 stations have been mentioned in MRT line-3. These are: Oxygen, Hashem Bazar Road, Muradpur, Chawkbazar, Chandanpura, Andarkilla, Kotwali, Firingibazar and Panchlaish-Ake Khan bus stop link at Panchlaish, Medical, GEC Square, BGMEA Institute, Fay’s Lake and Pahartali Lake Stop.