Uncertainty looms over the timely completion of the Dhaka metro rail’s extension from Motijheel to Kamalapur Railway Station, as the contractor’s proposed costs for electrical and mechanical work far exceed expectations.

The Japanese-Indian joint venture, comprising Marubeni and Larsen & Toubro, submitted a bid of Tk 6.42 billion—more than double the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited’s (DMTCL) estimate of Tk 2.98 billion. Despite reducing the bid slightly to Tk 6.30 billion, the gap remains vast.

Sources suggest that the extension would take nearly two years to complete after the contract is finalized. The contractor’s high bid is attributed to the necessity of aligning new systems with the existing Japanese technology.

While the civil contractor, Italian-Thai Development Public Company, has only completed 50% of its work, delays continue to mount. The civil contract is set to expire in March.

The extension was originally slated for completion by December 2025, but insiders now anticipate a delay of over two years.

DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf acknowledged the issue during a recent board meeting, but negotiations with the sole contractor have yet to begin.

Observers argue that inviting fresh tenders could introduce competition and potentially lower costs, but no decision has been made.