Starting tomorrow, Dhaka Metro Rail service will be operational on weekly holidays (Fridays) too.
Besides, the damaged Kazipara Metro Rail station will also be operational with special arrangement from tomorrow (September 20).
Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Mohammad Abdur Rauf made the announcement while briefing reporters at its headquarters in the city's Eskaton Garden on Thursday.
The top officer of the DMTCL said that the damaged Kazipara station will be operational from tomorrow. Efforts have been made to reopen the damaged Mirpur-10 metro rail station as soon as possible. Necessary activities are in process, he said, adding that it cost Tk 20 lakh to repair the damaged Kazipara metro station.
He said metro rail service will be operational seven days a week from tomorrow. On Friday, it will initially run from 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm on the Uttara North to Motijheel route, and from 3:50 pm to 9:40 pm on the Motijheel to Uttara North route with 12 minutes headway (time between two trains), he added.
About the reason behind the closure of the metro rail from Agargaon to Motijheel on September 18 (Wednesday), the managing director of the DMTCL said that the bearing pad between a pier and the viaduct above it was displaced between Bijoy Sarani and Farmgate metro rail stations.
Due to the technical fault, metro train movement from Agargaon to Motijheel section was temporarily stopped from 9:40 am yesterday (Wednesday) for the safety of passengers. Later, it resumed from 8:25 pm after fixing the technical issue.
A 7-member technical committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the technical error and take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The committee will submit a report with necessary recommendations within five working days, he said.
Replying to a question, the DMTCL managing director said that on an average three lakh passengers have been traveling via the metro rail daily. The DMTCL earned around Tk 20 crore in 18 days till September 18 this month, he added.