08/09/2021
Uttara-Bijoy Sarani metro rail viaduct completed
The viaduct from Uttara Phase-3 to Bijoy Sarani of the under-construction metro rail line has been completed, said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited managing director MAN Siddique on Tuesday.
Of the planned 20.1-kilometre-long metro rail line viaduct, 17.29 kilometres have been completed till now, he also said in a virtual press briefing.
The DMTCL is setting up the country’s first-ever elevated mass rapid transit between Uttara Phase-3 and Bangladesh Bank connecting Pallabi, Rokeya Sarani, Khamarbari, Farmgate, Karwanbazar, Shahbagh, TSC, Doyel Chattar and Topkhana Road intending to carry 60,000 passengers per hour from both ends by 24 trains.
According to MAN Siddique, the progress of the elevated Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 project is now 69.43 per cent, including 88.58 per cent progress in the public works between Uttara Phase-3 and Agargaon and 67.91 per cent between Agargaon and Motijheel, with 62.2 per cent progress in the electrical and mechanical systems and collection of rolling stocks and depot equipment.
The implementing firm is also having talks with the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and some bus companies in order to introduce circular bus services covering the metro rail station areas to facilitate passengers for the metro trains, the DMTCL MD said.
The firm has also a plan to widen the footpaths in the station areas, he added.
The managing director said that a committee was working on fixing fares for the metro trains, adding that the fares would be fixed in view of some issues, including the affordability of passengers and the operational cost of the railway service.
With regard to ticketing system, he said, MRT and Rapid passes would be issued as metro train tickets.
As regards the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the project, he disclosed that till August 3, 2021, some 1,000 project employees and workers had been infected with the virus.
The construction of the 31.241-kilometre-long MRT Line – 1 covering two routes — Airport–Kamalapur and Natun Bazar–Pitalganj Depot — is likely to start from July 2022, he said.
The performance test of the metro rail began on August 29 when an electricity-powered trial train with six coaches and two locomotives at the two ends ran on the viaduct from the Uttara depot to Pallabi at 25 kilometres per hour.
At the performance test inaugural ceremony, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said that prime minister Sheikh Hasina would inaugurate the metro rail service at least on the Uttara–Agargaon section of the route.
The project, worth about Tk 22,000 crore, started in June 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by July 2024.
Following a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office, the DMTCL began working on extending the line for a 1.16-kilometre-long stretch leading to Kamalapur.
The government has a plan to set up a 129-kilometre-long network of elevated train service connecting 104 stations under six metro rail projects by 2030 to reduce traffic congestion in the capital city and adjacent areas.
The viaduct from Uttara Phase-3 to Bijoy Sarani of the under-construction metro rail line has been completed, said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited managing director MAN Siddique ...
