The extension of Dhaka’s Metro Rail from Motijheel to Kamalapur — just over one kilometer in length — was initially scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
However, the project has been significantly delayed, with costs doubling due to unresolved contract issues and electromechanical work bottlenecks.
According to officials, the 1.16 km extension under the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 has faced delays primarily due to disputes over pricing for key electromechanical components.
These include the installation of electrical systems, lifts, escalators, platform screen doors, CCTV, signaling, and telecom systems.
As a result, the original Tk 274 crore allocation for this segment (only electromechanical) is now projected to rise substantially.
The Kamalapur extension pushed the total project cost of the MRT Line-6 by Tk 11,486.92 crore to Tk 33,471.92 crore. The line was initially opened to traffic in 2022 between Uttara and Agargaon, and was later opened up to Motijheel. The Kamalapur extension came later.
The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which requires the use of approved contractors.
However, the current contractor’s quoted price — almost double the estimated amount for the electromechanical works — has led Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) to reconsider the agreement.
“We are preparing to call a fresh tender to seek competitive rates from new contractors,” said Md. Zakaria, the DMTCL official in charge of project implementation.
The DMTCL board, in a recent meeting, directed the authorities to obtain revised quotations.
Officials say a final decision will be made at the next board meeting, likely be held in three months, after evaluating the new proposals. Yet uncertainty persists, as the process of issuing fresh tenders could result in further delays without guaranteeing reduced costs.
Originally slated to be operational in 2024, the Kamalapur extension is now unlikely to launch before December 2026 — even that timeline appears uncertain with the government’s latest decision to go for fresh bidding.
Officials estimate a potential revenue loss of at least Tk 126 crore annually due to the delay, based on average daily fare collections.
Construction progress on the Motijheel–Kamalapur stretch of the MRT Line-6 has reached approximately 50%. Civil works have seen significant advancement: all 177 pillars are complete, along with 59 of 61 pile caps and 37 of 39 piers.
While precast segments are ready, only 5 of 27 spans have been installed, and just 45 meters of the 180 – meter track slab have been cast. The viaduct installation atop pillars is yet to begin.
The MRT Line-6 originally covered the 20-kilometer stretch from Uttara to Motijheel. With the Kamalapur extension, the line would directly connect to the country’s central railway hub, offering greater convenience for inter-district travelers alongside the regular city commuters.
However, the lack of contract finalization has emerged as a critical bottleneck. “The contractor has demanded increased funding, but no agreement has been signed yet,” a DMTCL official said.
Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, has been briefed on the issue. Internal discussions highlighted the risk of further cost escalation and timeline slippage if rebidding is pursued, an official said.
Professor Md. Hadiuzzaman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology warned that repeated delays are undermining the purpose of the metro rail initiative.
“We must break free from this cycle of project extensions. Without timely execution, public confidence and utility both erode,” he cautioned.
The first phase of MRT Line-6—from Uttara to Agargaon — was inaugurated in December 2022, followed by the extension to Motijheel in November 2023. Dhaka Metro currently serves an average of 400,000 passengers daily.
