DHAKA: The government has invited first tender for its much-cherished metro-rail to identify a construction group following scrutiny of its technical and financial proposals for the project.

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday made the disclosure on Sunday.

He said, “An international tender had been invited on January 30 to scrutinize the feasibility study in selecting the possible construction firm for metro-rail, which he descried as Package-8.

Under the pakages-8 Rolling Stock, Depot Equipment and Depot Rolling Stock will be collected with the expenditure of Tk about 3,000 crore. 

Metro-rail plant, workshop and operation control center, power substation, training center and Washing Plant, will be constructed under the package, he added.

He said that the tender of Package-8 of metro-rail has been called to implement the project with the aim of providing faster and safer journey for city commuters as well as to ease the traffic congestion in the city.

The minister further informed the media that the tender for scrutinizing the feasibility study of the firm for Package-7 and an international tender for Package-1 will be called in February.

Quader hoped that the bid for eight packages will end by 2015 and opening of metro-rail for commuters will be possible in 2019.

BDST: 1558 HRS, FEB 01, 2015