PM opens construction of maiden underground metro rail

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugurated the construction work of the country's first-ever underground metro rail, a month after opening the first section of the metro service – from Uttara's Diabari to Agargaon – on 28 December. 

The prime minister unveiled the inaugural plaque of the construction work of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-1 at sector 4 at Purbachal New Town Project in Narayanganj's Rupganj, reports the BSS.

While addressing a public rally there, the premier said none can harm the Awami League government by staging any movement as long as the people are with it.

"You [AL leaders and activists] can keep the trust that none can do anything by waging movement until the people are with us and we're working for people's welfare," she said.

The prime minister said another milestone was added to Bangladesh's development journey with the opening of the construction of the country's first-ever underground metro rail line. 

"The most striking feature of the metro rail is that it will not pollute the environment and it will be soundproof as modern technology is being used for it while it will also be run by electricity," she said.

The government will construct the MRT Line-1 having both underground and elevated facilities from Airport to Kamalapur and Purbachal to Natun Bazar with an estimated cost of Tk52,561.43 crore by 2026.

A total of six metro rail routes will be inaugurated in the capital city Dhaka by 2030.

A Japanese firm-led consortium will oversee the construction of the metro line.

"The project which the honourable prime minister inaugurated today [Thursday] is a vital one, undoubtedly. A joint venture of Bangladeshi company Max Infrastructure Limited and Japanese firm Tokyu Construction Company Limited will make the tunnel for the MRT-1 underground rail," Engineer Ghulam Mohammed Alomgir, chairman of Max Group, told The Business Standard.

"The engagement of local companies in the big project proves that the country's construction companies are gaining capacity day by day and going ahead. It [the improvement] is also a part of sustainable development," he added.

According to the project details, the MRT Line-1 will have two parts – a 19.872km part from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur (Airport route) which will be underground with 12 stations and an around 11.37km elevated line from Natun Bazar to Purbachal (Purbachal route) having seven stations, while Natun Bazar and Nadda stations will be underground as part of the airport route, reports the BSS.

The Bangladesh government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will bear expenses of Tk52,561.43 crore for construction work of the MRT Line-1, of which Jica will provide Tk39,450.32 crore as project assistance (PA) and the Bangladesh government will give Tk13,111.11 crore.

According to the project details, the MRT Line-1 will take 24 minutes and 30 seconds to travel from Airport to Kamalapur, with breaks at 12 underground stations, and 20 minutes and 35 seconds to travel from Natun Bazar to Purbachal with breaks at seven stations.

Passengers will be able to reach Purbachal from Kamalapur with an interchange in Natun Bazar station within only 40 minutes with breaks at 16 stations.

After the launch of MRT Line 1, eight lakh passengers will be able to travel through the route every day.

MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited – the owning company of the metro rail project, said the Natun Bazar station will also have an interchange facility with MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) from where passengers will have scope for going to the Airport route from Purbachal or Purbachal route to Airport using the interchange.

Briefly describing her government initiatives for Bangladesh's overall development, the prime minister said the country is marching towards prosperity at an indomitable pace in line with her party's slogan "Bangladesh on the march towards prosperity," stated in the 2018 election manifesto. 

"Bangladesh started its journey on the highway of development due to having continued democratic process since we assumed office in 2009. So, we have now become a developing nation and are considered as the role model of development in the world," she said.

The premier has sought cooperation from the countrymen to continue the development spree in the days to come as they did in 2008, 2014, and 2018 elections. 

Referring to the 2008 election in which all the political parties took part, Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, said the BNP-Jamaat alliance only got 30 seats out of 300 while the AL-led grand alliance secured the remaining others. 

"We've worked for the people's welfare. So, the people are voting for us. We're getting the trust and confidence of the people through our work," she added.

Mentioning that recently "Boat" – the electoral symbol of the AL, won in by-polls of Bogura and Chapainawabganj, the AL president extended her sincere thanks to those who voted for "Boat".  

The premier vowed to build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041 maintaining the status of a developing nation confronting all hurdles.

She said her government has a target of developing Purbachal as a smart city.

Over 40 development projects are running in Narayanganj district including a project through which the Narayanganj link road is being upgraded into a six-lane one, she said, adding, "We want to build Narayanganj district as a smart city as it has a great importance to us."  

Referring to the ongoing trend of high inflation across the globe induced by the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions, and counter-sanctions, she called upon all to exercise austerity in the use of electricity, furnace oil, water, and other resources amid the global crisis.

"We're managing everything. But, we need your (people's) cooperation to overcome the crisis," she said. 

The prime minister reiterated that her government would provide subsidies to agriculture and food production as much as required. 

But, subsidies on electricity only benefit the rich people largely as the affluent people use more electricity, she said. 

Citing that the production cost of electricity is much higher than its price, she said, "You will have to pay the production cost."

The prime minister asked the people to increase food production by bringing every inch of land under cultivation as the world is going through a food crisis.