MRT Line-6: Agargaon-Motijheel section to open after October 15

The metro rail up to Motijheel could be operational any day after October 15.

The authorities set a target to complete all kind of test and trial runs on Agargaon-Motijheel section by October 15 and sought time from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to open it after the date, said officials.

Meanwhile, physical work of the country's third metro rail line started last month with the beginning of land development work for its depot at Hemayetpur, on the outskirts of the capital.

The Metro rail authorities also sought time from the prime minister to formally inaugurate the breaking ground of Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (northern route) from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara. It is expected to take place next month, the officials added.

As per the government's time-bound action plan, it would build a 140km metro rail network, comprising six lines, in Dhaka and adjacent areas by 2030 to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

The country's first metro rail line -- MRT Line-6 -- was launched partially from Uttara to Agargaon in December last year.

Physical work of the second metro rail line -- MRT Line-1 -- which is also the first underground metro line of the country, started in March this year.

AGARGAON-MOTIJHEEL PART

Since the opening of Uttara-Agargaon section of MRT Line-6, the demand for trains on the Agargaon-Motijheel route has increased as the major catchment area runs through Mirpur to Motijheel.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the performance test on Agargaon-Motijheel section on July 7 and announced opening of this section in late October. The authorities also planned to opening three out of seven stations -- Farmgate, Secretariat (Jatiya Press Club), and Motijheel -- at the beginning.

The section saw 96.10 percent progress till July, and the authorities set a target to complete performance test, system integrity test, trial run and blank operations by October 15, according to monthly progress report.

"We have sought time from the prime minister to open this section any day after October 15," MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), the implementing agency of the project, told The Daily Star yesterday.

He said they sent a letter via the Road Transport and Highways Division last week.

Once opened, around 5 lakh people will be able to use the line daily and it would take only 38 minutes from Uttara to Motijheel, while it takes over two hours in other modes.

THIRD METRO LINE

Physical work of MRT Line-5 (northern route) started on July 16 with the beginning of land development of its depot at Hemayetpur, said MAN Siddique.

On May 23, DMTCL hired a joint venture firm of TOA Corporation of Japan and Spectra Group of Bangladesh for the work at the cost of Tk 1,189 crore. They are mobilising their equipment and manpower and doing preparatory work, he said.

He added that they expected the prime minister would inaugurate the physical work of the Tk 41,239 crore project next month.

The project to build 20km rail line from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur, and Gulshan would be implemented with Japanese loan and its deadline is 2028. The rail line with 14 stations will have underground and elevated sections.