Metro rail to fully open in October: Quader

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the country's first-ever metro rail service up to Motijheel in October this year, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader during a seminar in Dhaka on Sunday.

The metro rail currently operates for 12 hours, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on the Uttara-Agargaon section of the line. The inauguration of the remaining section will enable commercial operations of the metro rail along the entire 20.10km line, connecting Uttara to Motijheel.

According to officials, the full-length inauguration of the project will significantly reduce travel time for commuters, allowing them to travel from Uttara to Motijheel in just 38 minutes, compared to the current 110 minutes. This represents a remarkable 65% reduction in travel time.

During the seminar titled "Start of Operation of MRT Line-6 from Agargaon to Motijheel: Progress, Prospects, and Beyond," organised by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), its Managing Director MAN Siddique reported that nearly 95% of the work on the Agargaon-Motijheel section of the metro rail has been completed.

He added that significant progress has been made on the construction of the viaduct for the metro rail, with no incomplete work reported. Station construction is also progressing rapidly, although there are some challenges remaining in completing entry and exit points at certain stations.

MAN Siddique further stated that all 24 sets of metro rails have arrived in the country, and testing and commissioning of some trains are currently underway.

"Performance tests on the Agargaon-Motijheel section will commence in July, followed by the system integration test in September," he added, noting that a trial run on the section is scheduled to begin in October.

However, there are concerns about the feasibility of inaugurating commercial service by October following such a short trial period, spanning only three months. They highlighted that the commercial operation of the Uttara-Agargaon portion was launched after a trial period of over a year, starting in August 2021.

In response to a question, Obaidul Quader explained that based on previous experience, the commercial service was planned to be inaugurated following a relatively short trial period.

The minister emphasised that the metro rail is a national asset, urging people to be mindful and help maintain the beauty of the metro rail. He recommended taking legal action against posturing on the pillar of the metro rail.

Quader expressed his disappointment that Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, ranks as the most unlivable city among 140 cities worldwide, according to the Economic Intelligence Unit.

MAN Siddique provided an overview of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited's current projects, stating that they are currently implementing four metro rail projects in Dhaka. Additionally, financing for MRT Line-5 (South) has been confirmed, while feasibility studies for Line 2 and Line 4 are ongoing.

He revealed that the first extension project for MRT Line-6 to Kamlapur has achieved 5% progress in physical works, and the feasibility study for the second extension to Tongi is scheduled to begin in January 2024.

Work on MRT Line-6 commenced on 26 June 2016, with the aim of concluding by 2024. Siddique emphasised that early commissioning of the project would result in financial savings, which could be allocated for feasibility studies for the extension.

The project's benefits include reducing traffic congestion, which would save Tk8.38 crore per day in travel time costs and Tk1.18 crore in vehicle operating costs, Siddique explained.

Furthermore, the project would contribute to addressing climate change challenges by reducing carbon emissions by 202,762 tonnes annually. Additionally, all metro rail systems combined are expected to generate employment opportunities for over 12,000 graduates, and the backward and forward linkage services will create 3-4 times that number of jobs.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, present at the event, expressed that the metro rail sector holds promise for increasing cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan.

He further added that the MRT system would enhance citizens' livelihoods, reiterating Japan's commitment to supporting Bangladesh.

Ichiguchi Tomohide, Jica chief representative to Bangladesh, highlighted that the metro rail system would revolutionise commuting in Dhaka and become the most reliable mode of transportation in the city, greatly benefiting the residents.

Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam stated that inter-district bus terminals would be relocated based on metro rail connectivity.

The Mohakhali bus terminal is planned to be relocated approximately 800 metres north of the Diabari depot of the metro rail, while the Gabtali terminal is to be relocated to Hemayetpur, adjacent to the depot of MRT Line-5.