ZCZC
BSS-38
COVID 19-METRORAIL-CONSTRUCTION
DMTC places order for metro trains for carrying passengers
DHAKA, May 11, 2020 (BSS) – Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) has
given order to Japanese metro train company for manufacturing second, third
and fourth set of passengers’ trains, as the first passenger train was ready
to shipment.
“One set of metro train having six coaches and two engines was ready for
shipment on June 15 but it was delayed due to COVID 19,” Managing Director of
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) MAN Siddique told BSS here today over
phone.
He said overall 45 percent construction work of the Dhaka Metro Rail
project has been completed so far, as works continued following the health
instruction during the COVID 19 and currently 10.26 kilometer out of 11.73
kilometer metro rail between Uttara and Agargaon has become visible.
Siddique said construction of the first phase between Uttara and Agargaon
stood at 72 percent while 40 percent was done of the second phase (Agargaon
to Motijheel) till now and its work will be completed with sincere and
relentless efforts, as DMTCL authorities engaged workers and experts
following the health instructions properly.
“Our construction works were going on in small scale at five points during
the coronavirus globally and nationwide lockdown. We expect that large scale
construction works will be started from next week following the health
instructions properly, as we have already provided housing facilities for our
workers with ensuring a 14-day home quarantine” he said.
The DMTCL managing director said foreigners and also local experts will
also be taken under 14 days quarantine aimed at preventing coronavirus
spread. The COVID-19 epidemic has not heavily affected the metro rail
project.
The government has a plan to officially inaugurate MRT Line 6 (From Uttara
to Kamalapur) on December 16, 2021 to mark the golden jubilee of independence
of Bangladesh, an official said.
According to the DMTCL authorities, electric lines will be installed along
with the metro rail lines. There will be a total number of 16 stations,
starting from the first station at Uttara Diabari named as ‘Uttara North’.
The Metro Rail is projected to carry 60,000 passengers per hour by
traveling the entire route of 20 km in less than 40 minutes.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader earlier said the total
metro-rail project is being done in eight packages, adding, “Construction
work of Mass-Rapid Transport (MRT) Line-6, the country’s first elevated metro
rail system in Dhaka city, is going on in full swing targeting to complete it
by the end 2021.”
According to project details, under fifth packages, 3.2 kilometer viaduct
and three metro stations are being built from Agargaon to Karwarbazar while
4.9 kilometer metro-rail from Karwanbazar to Motijheel having four stations
is being constructed under sixth packages.
Package-5 under MRT Line-6 is being implemented by a joint venture of
Japanese Pekken Abenikko and Bangladeshi Abdul Monem Ltd.
BSS/SPL/SAS/KU/2019 HRS