Consultants start design work for southern metro rail in Dhaka

Engineering consultancy Egis is working with partners SMEC and Oriental Consultants Global (OCG) to help plan and design a new metro project in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Metro Line-5 South will span nearly 13 kilometers of tunnels, 16 stations – 12 underground and four elevated – and a train depot. The project is financed by the Asian Development Bank, and will be managed by the Dhaka Metro Transit Company – controlled by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. 

Egis, SMEC and OCG have signed a 36-month contract to run feasibility studies for the development, followed by support with engineering design and procurement. “Our technical expertise and vast rail and metro experience will enable us to support and advise our client to successfully deliver these essential infrastructure projects,” noted Janardhan Sundaram, executive director at SMEC Bangladesh.

Leading the consortium is Egis – a French multinational engineering services firm specialising in infrastructure development. SMEC and OCG will support this offering – building on a long-standing relationship of strategic collaboration in the Asia Pacific since 2011. 

Headquartered in Melbourne, SMEC brings global expertise in infrastructure project management across a range of industries – spanning transport, hydropower, energy, water and resources. Japan-based OCG is an engineering consultancy with end-to-end project management expertise.

“We have an in-depth understanding of the transport sectors and environments in these countries, with a majority of services being delivered from our locally based offices and teams,” said Sundaram, alluding to SMEC’s steady involvement in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development. 

Just last year, SMEC was contracted for a rail project – extending the current line beyond Darshana through Damurhuda and Mujibnagar all the way to Meherpur. The project will connect improve rural connectivity across the country, and also open up key routes of tourism to historical sites.