PM to open underground metro construction on 2 Feb

All preparations have been completed for the construction of a depot of the country's first underground metro rail, MRT Line 1, on 35.90-hectare land by the Shitalaksha River in Pitalganj village about a kilometre south of the Kanchan Bridge along the 14-lane Purbachal Expressway.

The joint venture of Japan's Tokyu Construction and local Max Infrastructure has assembled dozens of excavators and other equipment in the construction yard to start the development work following the inauguration.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the work of MRT Line 1 project, worth an estimated Tk52,561.43 crore, on 2 February, making a new milestone for the country's infrastructural development as it will enter the era of underground metro rail.

Infographic: TBS

The government is set to arrange a glitzy inauguration ceremony for the construction of the first underground metro rail and showcase other development activities.

The ruling Awami League wants to gather over 10 lakh people in the opening ceremony ahead of the upcoming election. On the occasion, a public meeting is being organised on the Brahmankhali High School ground. The prime minister will also inaugurate the construction of the Dhaka Sylhet six-lane highway from the event.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the MRT Line 1 to develop an underground metro rail from the capital's Airport to Kamlapur with an elevated link from Natunbazar to Purbachal on 15 October 2019.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will provide a soft loan of Tk39450.32 crore, which is about 75% of the total project cost.

The 31.241 km rail line will have 19 stations, of which 12 are underground. A total of 25 trains, each having eight coaches, will operate on the line.

The project will be implemented in 12 packages with the construction work of package 1, which includes soil improvement and development on the 35.90-hectare land for the depot, to be inaugurated on Thursday.

The joint venture of Tokyu Construction and Max Infrastructure were awarded the package with an estimated cost of TK 607.65 crore.

Officials said 27,770 passengers will be able to ride each hour in the proposed line of the metro service and the daily number of riders will reach 1,88,7200 in 2025.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) officials said that the travel time from Kolhapur to Airport will drop to 24.3 minutes from 139 minutes after the metro rail service opens, saving 85% travel time.

The line will also help save 70% travel time on the Purbachal to Natun Bazar line and 82% on Purbachal to Kamlapur line.

MAN Siddique, managing director of DMTCL, said that the proposed metro rail will reduce traffic congestion and save time for the city dwellers.