PM opens metrorail, BRT works

Staff Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally opened the construction work of the country`s first-ever metrorail project also known as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

The premier launched the work of MRT Line-6 by inaugurating the land development work of the depot area through a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital on Sunday morning.

Besides, she opened the construction work of Gazipur Bus Depot as part of the construction work of 20.5-kilometer Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport under Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project in the same function.

The commercial operation of 20.1-km metro rail will commence in 2019.

The MRT-6 Project is being executed at a cost of about Taka 22,000 crore. Of the amount, the JICA is providing Taka 16,500 crore to the project, while the rest of the fund would come from the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), 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 20.1-kilometer 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, Doel Chattar, Topkhana Road and Bangladesh Bank.

There will be 16 stations - Uttara North, Central and South, Pallabi, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Taltala, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon, National Museum, Doyel Chattar, Bangabandhu National Stadium and Bangladesh Bank.

The BRT Project will be implemented at a cost of Taka 2040 crore of which the Asian Development Bank will provide lion share.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 26, 2016/Azad