Metro rail depot nears completion

The country's first metro rail line has ramped down from Agargaon to Diabari in Uttara via Mirpur-Pallabi after a slight turn. Trains will go along this line to the 300-metre long workshop. After inspection, coaches will go to a depot, which can accommodate 18 trains at a time. And if a locomotive is detected with any problems, they will be kept for repairs.

Construction of workshop, depot, washing shed of the mass rapid transit (MRT) line-6, the first-ever metro rail project in the country, is nearing completion.

Also, work on maintenance, storage and operation of trains has almost finished.

The depot will be completed only after it gets power connection from the substation.

A total of 52 buildings, including the administrative ones are being, constructed in the depot area. Of them, work on nine buildings has been completed, while only some work remains to be done for the rest. Construction workers and engineers were found busy in work in almost all the buildings.

Planning Minister MA Mannan has expressed hope that the first section of the much-hyped metro rail from Diabari to at least Agargaon will be launched on 16 December.

Visiting the depot and several stations, he said, "The head of government has expressed her desire in operating the metro rail by December. Work, which was delayed because of Covid-19, is now going fast. Reviewing the progress of the work, it seems possible to inaugurate the metro rail by that time."

MAN Siddique, managing director of the Dhaka Mass Transport Company Limited which owns the metro rail and in-charge of the operation, said about 22 types of services, utilities and systems will have to be installed in the station building. After that, these features will have to be integrated with the main system.

He thinks the system integration will be challenging.

Visiting Dia Bari to the third metro station "Uttara South", it was found that lift installation at the station was in the initial stage.

Construction of the substation, ticket counter, toilet and administrative building on the second floor of the station has been completed. On the third floor, there are huge platforms on both sides of the train tracks. Installation of the tracks in this part has been completed.

The planning minister said, "I have confidence in our workers and engineers. With that confidence, I tell you that it will be possible to inaugurate the first section of the metro rail up to Agargaon on the Victory Day."

The construction of Uttara North station, known as the iconic station of the metro rail project, is nearing completion. After completing the construction of Uttara centre and Uttara south building, systems and utilities are being installed there.     

Meantime, physical work at Pallabi station is also quite visible.

Roof construction of Mirpur-11 and Mirpur-10 stations is to be completed, while construction of substations at Kazipara and Shewrapara stations has been completed. Construction of the Agargaon station building has not been started yet.

The metro rail project connecting a 20-kilometre stretch from Uttara to Motijheel was approved in 2012 at a cost of Tk22,000 crore. As per the instructions of the prime minister, another 1.16 km rail line will be added to Kamalapur.