Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday formally launched the construction work of the much-awaited metro rail project and the Bus Rapid Transit setting up a new milestone in the country’s communication sector.
The premier launched the work of the country’s first-ever metro rail project also known as the Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 by inaugurating the land development work of the depot area through a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka this morning.
She also opened the construction work of Gazipur bus depot as part of the construction work of 20.50-kilometer Bus Rapid Transit, the first of its kind in the country, from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport under Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project through the same function.
The prime minister inaugurated the construction work of the two mega projects by unveiling their plaques at the function. A munajat was offered later seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader and Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe spoke at the function arranged by road transport and highways division.
The MRT-6 Project is being executed at a cost of about Tk 22,000 crore. Of the amount, the JICA is providing Tk16,500 crore to the project, while the rest of the fund would come from the government of Bangladesh, official sources said.
The fast moving metro rail will run to and from Uttara and Motijheel via Mirpur and Farmgate, carrying 60,000 passengers in an hour touching every station once in every four minutes.
The 20.10-km MRT Line-6 will run from Uttara Third Phase and pass through Pallabi, the west side of Rokeya Sarani and Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla, TSC of Dhaka University, Doyel Chattar, Topkhana Road and Bangladesh Bank.
There will be 16 stations – Uttara North, Central and South, Pallabi, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Taltala, Agargaon, Bijay Sarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon, National Museum, Doyel Chattar, Bangabandhu National Stadium and Bangladesh Bank.
The metro rail would run from Uttara Third Phase to Agargaon in 2019 and to Bangladesh Bank in 2020 and the people could reach Bangladesh Bank from Uttara within 38 minutes.
Once MRT Line-6 Project is in operation, the city’s commuters would enjoy their much-awaited ease in the traffic movement, getting rid of the perennial congestion of the transportations on the roads of the gradually expanding city.
Besides, the pedestrians would feel further free in their movement on the city’s footpaths while walking down to respective destinations as the newest mode of transport would carry the main load of the travelers every day.
Tk 567 crore would be spent for the land development and construction of establishments in the depot area.
An agreement with Tokyu Construction Company, a Japanese firm selected through international tender, has been signed for setting up the depot in the last week of March this year.
Soundproof machines with most modern technologies would be installed in constructing the alignment that would go beside important establishments like Dhaka University Library Building, TSC and National Museum.
The government signed a deal with JICA for implementation of the MRT Line-6 project on February 20 in 2013, while the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the project on October 31 in 2013.
The BRT Project would be implemented at a cost of Tk 2,039.85 crore of which the Asian Development Bank, Agency for French Development and Global Environment Facility would provide Tk 1,650 crore as a project assistance, while the rest of the amount come from the GoB fund, the sources said.
The BRT scheme is scheduled to be completed in 2018 and with its implementation, about 25,000 passengers would be able to travel per hour on both directions by the bus-based mass rapid transport system.
Source: New Age
If implemented would usher a new era for the population of Dhaka .But doubt exist about timely implementation. only hope that it will not be like elevated express way which was supposed to be completed by 2013 .