Over 40 percent of the construction for the Motijheel to Kamalapur section of the Dhaka Metro Rail project has been completed, with significant progress reported. The section, expected to commence operations by December 2025, is currently the focus of intense construction efforts. Specifically, 25 out of 30 pillars for the metro station have already been erected, and the remaining pillars are slated for rapid completion. To accommodate the metro rail construction, one lane of the Kamalapur-TT Para Road will remain closed for the next six months, according to the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique, while speaking to UNB, emphasised the active pace of construction at the Kamalapur Metro Station and the viaduct connecting Motijheel-Kamalapur. Construction commenced in March last year, and progress has been substantial, marking an overall completion rate of 40 percent for this crucial section, he said. Read more: New schedule for metro rail passengers from June 19 “To facilitate construction, traffic diversions are in place, with one side of the road temporarily closed. We anticipate reopening the road upon project completion,” said Siddique. Responding to queries on project timelines, Siddique expressed confidence, stating, “We aim to initiate metro rail operations on this segment by December 2025.” The ongoing construction spans 1.16 km up to Kamalapur, initially targeted for completion by June 2025, now extended to December. The metro rail project, Bangladesh’s first Mass Rapid Transit Line, spans an elevated route from Uttara-Diabari-Mirpur-Farmgate-Motijheel-Kamalapur, totaling 21.26 km. The initiative has entailed demolitions of residences and shops. Construction activities are well underway near Bangladesh Bank and Sena Kalyan Bhaban in the Motijheel area. “The Kamalapur section of MRT Line-6 has undergone extensive soil testing and construction of critical elements like pilings, pile caps, station columns, pier columns, and precast segments. A significant portion of these structures has been completed,” added the DMTCL MD. Read more: Budget 2024-25: Uncertainty surrounds VAT exemption for Metro Rail tickets Regarding the Kamalapur extension, Siddique highlighted, “More than 100 properties have been affected, but compensation measures are in place.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the operation of the Uttara to Agargaon section of the Metro Rail on December 28, 2022. Looking ahead, the focus remains on meeting the December 2025 target for launching operations on the Motijheel-Kamalapur section of MRT Line-6, a landmark project set to transform urban mobility in Dhaka.

Dhaka Metro Rail services resumed after nearly two hours of suspension this morning (May 27, 2024). Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan, deputy director (public relations) of the MRT Line-6 project, said the operations remained suspended due to problem in power sypply. Suspension of Metro rail service causes immense suffering to city dwellers Wishing anonymity, an official of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, said the electric power supply for the metro rail was halted due to technical reasons. This problem occurred on Bijoy Sarani-Shewrapara line around 7:30am, he added. However, the services resumed after 9am, he said. Quader expresses discontent over NBR’s move to impose 15% VAT on Metro rail

Dhaka Metro Rail compartments were seen packed with commuters this morning (November 05, 2023) as arson violence was reported across the capital amid a road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties across the country. Commuters in Dhaka were boarding the train in greater numbers to go from one part of the capital to others as Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail opened to public this morning, almost a year after the first part of the MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon) opened. The opening of the entire route is now set to reduce travel time from one part of the capital to another by more than a third, according to project officials. On any other Sunday in Dhaka, it would typically take at least an hour and a half on the road to travel from the capital’s Uttara to Farmgate. Those days seem to be over now. Read more: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved the 2nd revision of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (Line-6) project with an additional cost of Tk 11,486.92 crore. With the latest revision, the length of the metro rail (Line-6) will increase by 1.16 km while the total cost will reach Tk 33,471.99 crore. The approval came from the 1st Ecnec meeting in the current fiscal year with Ecnec chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. She joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members and Secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Read: PM reiterates call to practice austerity in all spheres of life Planning Minister MA Mannan briefed reporters after the meeting. He said that a total of 8 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 15,856.80 crore. Of the approved eight projects, four are new while four others are revised ones. Of the total project cost, Tk 12,444.25 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Tk 134.57 crore from the concerned organization's own fund while the rest of Tk 3,277.98 crore as project assistance. As per the 2nd revision of the metro rail project, there will be civil works, rolling stocks modification, E & M system and station plaza construction from Motijheel to Kamalapur Line. State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that the Ecnec meeting discussed the launching of the much- hyped metro rail (Line-6) likely on December 16 this year with an aim to ease the traffic congestion in the capital. Read: Bangladesh saw 7.56 pc inflation in June, highest in 8 yrs Initially, he said, the metro rail will operate from Uttara to Agargaon as the work on the 11.73 km Diabari-Agargaon portion is nearing completion. The other projects approved in the meeting are upgrading Hathazari to Raozan portion of Chattogram-Rangamati national highway into four-lane with Tk 104.69 crore, upgrading Itakhola-Mothkhola-Katiadi Road and Noyapara-Araihazar-Narsingdi-Raipura regional highway with Tk 984.85 crore, Construction of Pipeline from Dhonua to Mymensingh for ensuring gas supply to Mymensingh Combined Cycle Power Plant with Tk 553.16 crore. The remaining projects approved in the meeting are Population-based uterine and breast cancer screening Programme (EPCBCSP) including electronic data tracking, 2nd revised with an additional cost of Tk 129.67 crore, Protecting Khagrachhari town and adjacent infrastructures from river erosion with Tk 586.01 crore, Upazila Governance and Development Project( 2nd revised) with an additional cost of Tk 211.50 crore and Greater Dinajpur rural infrastructures development project with Tk 1,800 crore.