Japan International Corporation Agency, JICA, has approved the appointment of consultants in the Tk220bn metro rail project.

 

　　Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said an agreement was inked at his ministry in this regard on Thursday.

 

　　“JICA will make the appointments,” the Minister said while visiting Chittagong on Friday morning.

 

　　Construction of the metro rail project, which aims to ease Dhaka city’s chronic traffic congestion was pending for appointment of consultants.

 

　　Obaidul Quader said the project does not have any barriers to start the construction process and the prime minister is likely to lay the foundation stone soon.

 

　　JICA has pledged about Tk166bn for the 20.1km-long rail route that will connect Uttara and Motijheel.

 

　　The fund has been pledged at 0.01% interest rate with 40-year repayment period and an additional 10 years of grace period.

 

　　The loan agreement was penned earlier this year.

 

　　In the morning, Obaidul Quader visited the Chittagong-Khagrachhari road to inspect the progress of the mending work of the road from Oxygen intersection to Hathazari.

 

　　Dissatisfied with the road repair progress, the minister show-caused concerned roads and highways division Executive Engineer Rana Priyo Barua.

 

　　This is the second time Barua has been show-caused regarding this matter.