Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Sept 8, 2026 (BSS) – The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is set to open tender documents for the procurement of rolling stock and depot equipment for MRT Line-1 on October 12.

“The rolling stock and depot equipment will be procured under Contract Package (CP)-12, while the electrical and mechanical systems will be installed under CP-11,” said an official familiar with the process.

Talking to BSS, he said construction of the country's first underground metro rail, MRT Line-1, is progressing through 12 contract packages, while land development work for the Pitalganj depot has already been completed.

According to the proposed revised Development Project Proposal (DPP), the project is expected to be completed by December 2033 at an estimated cost of Tk 120,794.13 crore.

The 31.241-kilometre MRT Line-1 comprises a 19.872-kilometre underground route from Airport to Kamalapur, featuring 12 underground stations, and an 11.369-kilometre route from Notun Bazar to Pitalganj Depot, featuring seven elevated and two underground stations.

Initially, metro operations will begin with 25 train sets, each comprising eight coaches. However, there will be provision to increase the number to 36 train sets in the future.

Each of the six middle coaches will have a maximum capacity of 390 passengers, while each of the two trailer coaches will accommodate up to 374 passengers. Thus, each metro train will have a maximum passenger-carrying capacity of 3,088.

The minimum headway between metro trains will be two minutes and 30 seconds.

The MRT Line-1 will be operated using a Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The maximum operating speed will be 80 kilometres per hour in the underground section and 100 kilometres per hour in the elevated section.

Construction of the project began on February 2, 2023. Detailed studies, surveys, basic and detailed designs for both routes, along with land acquisition for the Pitalganj depot, have been completed.

Utility relocation work in the proposed metro station areas and land acquisition activities for the project are also progressing rapidly.

Under CP-1, land development work for the MRT Line-1 depot on 35.90 hectares, or 88.71 acres, of land at Pitalganj mouza in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj was completed within the contractual timeframe on August 31, 2025.

Meanwhile, procurement activities for several other packages have also progressed.

Procurement proposals for CP-02 and CP-06 were sent to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for approval.

Pre-contract negotiations under CP-04 are now underway with the lowest evaluated bidder after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) gave concurrence to the financial proposal evaluation report.

For CP-05, DMTCL decided to distribute the works between CP-04 and CP-06 after the lowest evaluated bidder did not extend the bid validity period.

JICA has also given concurrence to the financial proposal evaluation report for CP-07, while pre-contract negotiations with the lowest evaluated bidder are continuing.

The technical proposal evaluation report for CP-08 was sent to JICA for concurrence.

The DMTCL board also approved procurement proposals for CP-09 and CP-10 for forwarding to the Road Transport and Highways Division for necessary approval by the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase.

CP-09 and CP-10 will cover the remaining elevated viaducts and stations of the Purbachal Route from Notun Bazar to Pitalganj, along with intersection civil structures.

Tendering activities for the remaining packages are also advancing. The tender for CP-11 was invited in January 2025 and is scheduled to be opened on October 12, 2026, while the tender for CP-12 was opened in February 2026 and is currently under evaluation.

Once completed, MRT Line-1 is expected to play a significant role in improving public transport connectivity in Dhaka and easing traffic congestion by providing a fast, safe and modern mass transit service.