Larsen & Toubro bags Design-and-Build Contracts for Bangladesh’s Dhaka Metro Line 1 Project

Dhaka, Bangladesh (Rail & Metro Today): Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured two major design-and-build orders worth between ₹5,000 crore and ₹10,000 crore for critical railway systems on Bangladesh’s Dhaka Metro Line 1 project. The orders strengthen the Indian engineering and construction major’s presence in the international urban rail market and mark another significant step in the development of Bangladesh’s first underground metro corridor.

The contracts have been awarded by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and cover track works, electrical systems, signalling, telecommunications and platform screen doors. The project is expected to deliver an integrated mass transit system for Dhaka, one of South Asia’s fastest-growing urban centres.

The new orders build on L&T’s earlier involvement in Dhaka Metro Line 6, Bangladesh’s first metro rail corridor, for which the company delivered an integrated railway systems package. Line 6 is currently in commercial operation.

Two Packages Cover Core Metro Systems

The orders comprise Contract Package CP09, covering track works and electrical systems, and Contract Package CP10, covering signalling, telecommunications and platform screen doors.

Under CP09, L&T, together with its Japanese partner Sumitomo Corporation, will undertake the design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of track works and associated electrical infrastructure. The scope includes power supply and distribution systems, traction substations, the overhead catenary system and related electrical facilities across the corridor.

CP10 covers the deployment of signalling and telecommunications systems, along with platform screen doors throughout the network. These systems are essential to safe train operations, communication between operational teams and the management of passenger movement at stations.

Together, the packages form the technological backbone of the proposed metro line. Their successful integration will be important to ensuring reliable train services and coordinating the various systems required for modern urban rail operations.

Dhaka Metro Line 1 to Span Approximately 31 km

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dhaka Metro Line 1 is planned as an approximately 31-km network comprising the Airport Route and the Purbachal Route.

The Airport Route will connect Kamalapur with the airport, while the Purbachal Route will run from Natun Bazar to Purbachal Terminal. The project includes 19 stations and a depot at Pitalganj.

As Bangladesh’s first underground metro project, Line 1 represents an important expansion of the country’s urban transport infrastructure. The network is intended to strengthen connectivity between key destinations and provide a modern mass transit alternative in a city facing substantial traffic congestion and growing travel demand.

Delivering the project will require close coordination among contractors, equipment manufacturers, railway system suppliers and public authorities. Integration of track, power, signalling, communications and platform screen doors will be particularly important for operational readiness.

L&T Strengthens International Rail Infrastructure Portfolio

L&T’s latest orders reinforce its position as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for complex railway and metro systems. Beyond its work in Bangladesh, the company is also executing an electromechanical systems package for the Jakarta Metro, extending its experience in international urban rail projects.

Commenting on the orders, Ramkumar S, Senior Vice President and Head of Transportation Infrastructure at L&T, said, “The repeat orders from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) are a testament to L&T’s capabilities in delivering large scale, integrated urban transit projects globally.”

He added that the company’s experience on Dhaka Metro Line 6 and the Jakarta Metro project positioned it to integrate multiple systems in coordination with original equipment manufacturers and other stakeholders.

The contracts highlight the growing role of Indian infrastructure companies in overseas railway development. As Dhaka Metro Line 1 progresses, the timely delivery and integration of its core systems will be central to creating a safe, reliable and efficient urban transport network for Bangladesh’s capital.