The construction work of Metrorail in Bangladesh is moving ahead as per the schedule. The overall progress of the project is 58.72 percent. The project will be inaugurated on December 16, the 50th anniversary of victory of Bangladesh’s independence.
First set of Metrorail left Kobe Port in Japan for Bangladesh on March 4 and it is scheduled to reach Dhaka on April 23.
Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique said this while presenting the latest progress of the project on Tuesday.
He said, “The overall progress of the construction work of the first metro rail is 58.72 percent. Out of 20.10-km viaduct, 13.275-km viaduct has been visible. 16.90-km railway line has been laid inside the depot while 10-km rail track plinth casting has been completed on the viaduct. Work is in progress to install an overhead catenary system inside the depot and on the viaduct using road cum rail vehicles.”
The project latest progress report showed that in the meantime, 6-km overhead catenary system has been installed inside the depot. The progress of construction work of Agargaon from Uttora is 81.42 while from Agargaon to Motijheel is 54.61 percent.
The overall progress of electrical and mechanical system and rolling stock and depot equipment procurement work is 49 percent.
Recently, six foreign specialist engineers working on MRT Line-6 under DMTCL have been infected with Covid-19. They are being given necessary treatment. As of March 8, a total of 343 people working on the project have been affected by Covid-19, but no one died.
According to DMTCL sources, roof construction work is underway at Uttara North, Uttara Center and Uttara South Station. Construction of platforms at Uttara Center and Uttara South Station has been completed. The construction work of the platform of Uttara North station is now in the final stage. Steel structure erection work is underway at Uttara North and Uttara South stations.
Construction of electrical sub-stations, signaling and telecommunication and station controller rooms at Uttara North, Uttara Center and Uttara South stations is also underway. Three of the five long-span balance cantilevers have been completed to ensure that normal water flow and traffic management are not disrupted during the construction of the Metrorail.
The project was adopted in 2012 to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka and make the journey of city dwellers comfortable, faster and smoother. 24 sets of trains will run. Each train will have six cars. The train will run at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour with passengers.
Metrorail will have the capacity to carry 60,000 passengers per hour from both sides. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing a loan of Tk 16,594.59 crore as project assistance out of the total cost of Tk 21,985 crore.
