Metro rail to be listed on the capital market: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her intention to list the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) in the stock market, said related sources. DMTCL is the company that manages the metro-rail project.

During a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday, the premier instructed DMTCL to prepare for the listing in the stock market.

The prime minister gave instructions on several issues at the Ecnec meeting, said Planning Minister MA Mannan after the meeting.

Quoting the prime minister, MA Mannan said, the metro rail project will be completed with the investment made by the government, but DMTCL must be listed in the capital market.

Prime Minister Sehikh Hasina also asked the officials to consider developing a metro rail route centred around Dhanmondi.

She also ordered officials to protect the Hateer Jheel area from the adverse effects of the constructing of the metro rail, said the planning minister.

MA Mannan also said that the prime minister gave orders to stop new connections for the supply of natural gas to households.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved two projects today for two new metro rail lines. One of the lines will be set up from Hemayetpur to Bhatara, and the other one from the airport area to Kamalapur, with an extension from Natunbazar to Purbachal.

The estimated cost for the two projects is Tk93,800 crore. The Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica) will provide tk68,567 crore as loan for the two projects, which is about 73 percent of the total cost of the new projects.