The much-anticipated expansion of Metro Rail Line-6, connecting Agargaon to Motijheel, would be inaugurated today. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the metro-rail service on the route this afternoon.
The Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) M.A.N. Siddique informed the media that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel section from Agargaon station on Saturday at 2.30 pm. Following this, she will travel to Motijheel by a metro train to join the inauguration ceremony at Motijheel station.
Additionally, Siddique has also said that the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the construction of MRT Line-5 (Northern Route), a 20-kilometer line stretching from Hemayetpur via Bhatara to Gabtoli, Mirpur-10, and Gulshan.
This ambitious project, with a budget of Tk 41,239 crore, is expected to be completed by 2028.
However, the regular metro train services from Uttara to Agargaon will be temporarily suspended on Saturday due to the inauguration ceremony, according to the metro rail authority.
The Metro Line-6 project, with its cutting-edge communication system, aims to alleviate the city’s traffic woes, reducing the time and stress that commuters face during daily travel. Once fully operational up to Kamalapur, this remarkable 21-kilometer metro rail system will significantly enhance urban mobility, benefiting the lives of countless citizens, said an official of metro rail.
He further informed that the Metro Rail service currently covers a 20-kilometer distance from Uttara to Motijheel, completing the journey in a mere 31 minutes for a flat fare of Tk 100.
The full route encompasses 16 stations, only three - Motijheel, Secretariat, and Farmgate - will be available for the time being on the initial Agargaon to Motijheel section due to ongoing construction works.
As of now, an average of 85,000 passengers are using the metro daily. However, once the service extends to Kamalapur, it is expected to accommodate up to 60,000 passengers per hour, providing relief to over 600,000 daily commuters. This, in turn, will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, subsequently curbing traffic congestion in the city.
The elevated design of the metro rail will shield passengers from the usual traffic snarls of the capital, ensuring a more efficient and comfortable travel experience. Nonetheless, experts in the field of transportation and communication emphasize that it is crucial for the Metro to offer comprehensive facilities to meet the growing demand and to minimize other potential issues within the city.
The Metro Rail Line-6 project is being executed at a total cost of Tk 33,472 crore, with loan assistance of Tk 19,718 crore provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the government is covering the remaining Tk 13,753.52 crore.
Following the inauguration of the Agargaon to Motijheel section, it is expected that a significant step towards modernizing the transportation network of the city will offer its citizens an efficient, environmentally friendly, and congestion-relieving option for their daily commutes.
