Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail on October 20, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today (August 20, 2023). A rally will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 3pm on October 20, marking the inauguration, the minister said while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of the Road, Transport and Bridges Ministry in the Secretariat. Also read: First phase of Metro Rail test run from Agargaon to Motijheel underway Meanwhile, the 11.5 km stretch of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, from Kawla to Farmgate, will be opened on September 2. On this occasion, a rally will be held at the old trade fair ground in Dhaka’s Agargaon. The construction work of the northern route of MRT Line 5 will be inaugurated on September 16, Quader also said. Also read: Metro rail service resumes after two hours of suspension On October 28, a rally will be held in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila to mark the inauguration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually inaugurate 140 bridges, 12 overpasses across the country from the newly-constructed Sarak Bhaban in Dhaka on October 22. A vehicle inspection centre will also be inaugurated at the same time. Also read: PM to inaugurate Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail in Oct: Quader

Dhaka Nagar Paribahan bus on two new routes- No 24 and 25- will be launched coordinating with Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (Line-6), said Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh. “Metro rail has already been launched. Therefore, we have taken the decision that we will operate bus service on the two new routes in coordination with the MRT service. We discussed and reviewed the details of the two new routes in today's meeting”, said the mayor. The DSCC mayor, also president of the Bus Route Rationalization Committee, made the comment while exchanging views with media personnel after the 26th meeting of the Bus Route Rationalization Committee at Buriganga hall of DNCC head office at Nagar Bhaban. Replying to a question from a journalist the mayor said, “We are seeing some irregularities. We have especially noticed the trend of travelling the bus without a ticket. But it won’t be allowed in Dhaka Nagar Paribahan anyhow. Everyone must buy a ticket. We have given strict instructions in this regard in today's meeting .” Mentioning that strict measures will be taken to maintain the quality of passenger service and ensure discipline in Nagar Paribahan, Taposh said, “We have discussed the matter. The BRTC assured that the buses for Dhaka Nagar Paribahan will run only their fixed routes. These buses won’t be allowed to be used anywhere else.” “We will give a show cause notice to Trans Silva. For that we will give them 15 days. If they show inability or fail to provide this service as per the prescribed rules and regulations, then we will cancel the contract,” he said. If Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) agrees, then the service will be operated by BRTC as an alternative, the DSCC mayor added. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said the passes that metrorail passengers have can be also used for all Nagar Paribahan buses and the decision was taken in today's meeting. “City dwellers can travel on metrorail and Nagar Paribahan buses with the same pass,” he said. Fifty buses will run initially on these two routes, the DNCC mayor added. Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Sabiha Parveen, Chairman of BRTA Noor Mohammad Majumdar, BRTC Chairman Md. Tajul Islam, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation Md. Mizanur Rahman, Joint Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (South) SM Mehdi Hasan and other members of the committee were present. The 2 new Nagar Paribahan routes are Route No. 24: Ghatarchar - Basila - Mohammadpur Bus Stand - Shishu Mela - Agargaon – From Mirpur 10 Via Kalsi Flyover to Airport - Jasimuddin – Abdullahpur and Route No. 25: Ghatarchar- Basila- Mohammadpur bus stand- Asadgate- Manik Mia Avenue - Khamarbari -Vijay Sarani -Jahangir Gate- Shaheen School- Mohakhali -Kakali- Banani Flyover via Regency- Airport- Jasimuddin- Abdullahpur.  

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the fares of metro rail are within the reach of people. The Minister said this while replying to questions from journalists at the Secretariat on Thursday (December 29, 2022). “At least Tk 20 has to be paid when people ride on rickshaws. In that sense, the fare of metro rail is okay. There are differences between the metro rail of Dhaka and Kolkata. Our metro rail is better than those of Thailand and Indonesia. Dhaka’s metro rail looks good,” said Quader. The Minister added that the rest of the work of MRT-6 will be completed within next year.“Besides, we’ll also start the works of MRT-1 and MRT-5 under the rule of the Awami League (AL) government. Both of these MRT lines will cover an area of 31 kilometres, among which 21km will be underground and 10km will be expressway.” Read More: Dhaka Metro Rail launch: From ticketing to seating – things to know Feasibility study is being conducted in Chattogram to find out if metro rail service can be launched there, Quader added. Replying to a question, Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling AL, said that his party leaders and activists will be guarding the streets on the day of Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) pre-scheduled mass procession on December 30. “Will we eat lollypops while BNP activists create violence? We’ll be on the streets tomorrow like we were on December 10,” Quader said. Quader further said that AL will take part in the next general elections whether EVM is used or not.“We want EVMs to be used in the next election. However, we’ll accept the decision of the Election Commission (EC) in this regard. Whatever happens, we’ll participate in the next elections,” Quader said. Also read: Long queues seen at Agargaon station as metro rail opens to public.

It gives a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure when you see the metro-rail is approaching the station at a speed of 100 km per hour. This is something we usually see in other countries. With much pride, by December next year, commuters can say that they too have such a modern transportation system in place. The year 2022 is the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Japan diplomatic relations. “The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) symbolizes the changing face of Dhaka,” said Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Tuesday during a press tour as passengers’ transportation in the Uttara-Agargaon section of MRT, Line-6 is set to begin in December next year. Also read: Metro Rail: The Magic Wand to Improve Dhaka's Transport System Selector at BCB national selection panel and former captain Habibul Bashar, selector and former left arm spinner Abdur Razzak and national team all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz also joined.

Various projects, including the construction of flyovers and special bus lanes, have been implemented or are being implemented to reduce traffic jams in Dhaka city. However, metro rail is seen as the most effective in modern urban planning and public transport. Moreover, Metro rail is admired in the developed world for its ease of traffic and rapid transportation of large numbers of passengers. With that in mind, the Bangladesh government has planned to build six metro rails to ease traffic jams in Dhaka. Although a portion of the Dhaka metro rail project was supposed to be finished in 2019-20, the new date is set for December 2021. Dhaka metro rail update According to the latest update, metro rail will be launched from Uttara to Agargaon on the 51st victory day. With this goal in mind, in the meantime, the preparations are underway; coaches have started coming from Japan. In the first phase, 6 coaches have already reached Dhaka on April 21, 2021. Further, on May 11, the wheel of the metro rail project ran on a test basis at the Metrorail depot in the Uttara Diabari area. Three months later, in August this year, the performance test will be started on the mainline above the viaduct. The integrated test will be performed after the performance test on the viaduct is completed. Then the trial runs. The overall average progress of the construction of the first metro rail in Bangladesh is about 64 percent. As per the initial construction plan, 85% of the third phase of the Uttara to Agargaon part is done. The progress of the second phase construction work from Agargaon to Motijheel section is about 60% completed. Moreover, the integrated progress of the electrical and mechanical system, rolling stock, and depot equipment procurement work is 55%. Read: One step closer to completing historic Metro Rail project in Bangladesh: Japan The number of metro rails in Dhaka According to the government's revised metro rail plan, 131 km of metro rail is needed to keep Dhaka and its surrounding suburbs operational. According to that, the government plans to build a total of six metro rails by 2030. These will be implemented in three phases. MRT 6: Uttara to Motijheel It will take 36 minutes to travel from Uttara to Motijheel by metro rail MRT 6. It will be able to transport 60,000 passengers in two directions per hour. The cost of the MRT 6 project has been estimated at Tk 21,985 crore. Of this, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 16,594 crore. The Bangladesh government will pay the rest. The project was approved in December 2012. The loan agreement was signed with JICA in February 2013, and the duration of the project is till 2024. There will be 16 stations from Uttara to Motijheel. Initially, metro rail is to be launched with 24 trains. Each train will initially have six bogies and have plans to increase it to eight later. According to preliminary estimates, it will be able to transport 4 lakh 83 thousand passengers a day in the beginning. In 2035, the number of passengers will increase to more than 16 lakh. The remaining five metro rails will be underground and flyovers to connect Dhaka and its suburbs. Two of these projects have been approved. Read: ‘Mockup’ Metro Rail coach arrives in city MRT 1: Airport to Kamalapur and Purbachal The length of metro rail Line-1 from the airport to Kamalapur is 31 km. Of this, 19 km will be by subway or underground. The remaining 12 kilometers will be elevated or on the ground. There will be a total of 19 stations on this route. The total cost of the project will be Tk 51,900 crore. Of this, the loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be Tk 33,914 crore. The remaining Tk 18,096 crore will be provided from the state exchequer. The airport-Kamalapur project will have two routes. One will be from the airport to Kamalapur, while the other one from Natunbazar to Purbachal. The airport route will go directly to Kamalapur. And the Purbachal route will go to Purbachal from Notunbazar. According to DMTCL, it currently takes two hours by road from the airport to Kamalapur. However, this route will take only 24 minutes to cross via the metro rail. Besides, it will take 36 minutes to go from Kamalapur to Purbachal by metro train. Hence, this will save a lot of time for the Dhaka people. Read: Chattogram also to have metro rail service: Quader MRT 5: Northern route and southern route The total cost of the Metro Rail Line-5 project has been estimated at Tk 41,261 crore. Of this, JICA will give a loan of Tk 30,756 crores, and 10,505 crores will be provided from the state treasury. DMTCL has promised to complete the project in December 2027. The length of this route will be 20 kilometers which will start from Hemayetpur in Savar and end at Bhatara through the cantonment. Out of 20 kilometers, 14 kilometers will be the subway. The remaining six kilometers are elevated or flyovers. There will be 14 stations, 9 will be under the ground and five above the ground. Starting from Hemayetpur, it will go to Baliarpur, Madhumati, Amin Bazar, Gabtali, Darussalam, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-14, Kachukhet, Banani, Gulshan-2, New Bazar and end at Bhatara. Read First coaches of metro train reach Dhaka MRT 2: Gabtali to Chittagong Road Under MRT Line-2, by 2030, about 24 km long metro rail will be constructed from Gabtali to Chittagong Road with the underground and elevated combination. A Memorandum of understanding was signed between the Governments of Japan and Bangladesh in 2017. The possible layout of this line is Gabtali-Basila-Mohammadpur-BRTC Bus Stand-Satmasjid Road-Jhigatala-Dhanmondi No. 2 Road-Sciencelab-Newmarket-Nilkhet-Azimpur-Palashi-Shaheed Minar-Dhaka Medical College-Police Headquarters-Golap Shah Mazar- north side of Banga Bazar-Motijheel-Arambagh-Kamalapur-Mugda-Mera-Chittagong Road. Even in this coronavirus pandemic, the government is working hard to complete the construction of the country's first metro rail on the golden jubilee of independence. After last week's test, it is evident that the county will certainly see the inauguration of Uttara to the Agargaon route at the end of this year. However, we may need to wait for 8-9 more years to see the completion of other projects. Read Padma Bridge, Metro Rail opening to public within June 2022: Quader