The long-awaited Metro Rail Line-6 is going to be opened this December.

The month is very special to the people of Bangladesh as in this very month the country achieved independence in 1971. So, this month has been chosen for the inauguration of Metrorail project.

In the first week after the opening, train will travel twice each morning and afternoon. As part of making the city people used to this new transportation system, it will travel only twice initially and the flight will be increased gradually.

The financer and constructor of this project is Japan International Co-operation Agency (JAICA), who on Monday arranged a press-tour for the journalist so that they can observe the project by doing field visit. DMTC and Metrorail authority also arranged this type of field visits many times before. In this event of Monday, various sides of the project were presented by Takayuki Fujitomi, the representative of general consultant company Nippon Koei, Rasono Tetsuya, the representative of electrical and mechanical systems builder company Marubeni and Miyamoto Hidayati, the representative of train supplier company Kawasaki. 

Bangladesh Mission Chief of JAICA, Ichiguchi Tomohide gave speech on the occasion, highlighting the overall matters of the project. He said, “It’s one of the most modern metro rail in the world as it has been implemented by applying most modern technologies. This Metro Rail can travel at a maximum speed of 100 KPH. It will take only 38 minutes to go to Motijheel from Diabari. Besides, the works of Metro Rail Line -1 will start this month.”

He said the introduction of Metro Rail will bring revolutionary change in the lifestyle of the city residents. Additionally, they would travel through an environment-friendly commuter.

Regarding a research conducted in neighboring India, he said women-employment increased there after the introduction of Metro Rail and he also expect the same scenario here.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) managing director M A N Siddique said, “With a view to make the passengers used to Metrorail, the travel frequency will be limited initially and the train will stand at the platform a little bit more time. After two to three months, it will run on its hundred percent operation capacity. “

He said six bogies of 10 train will be get prepared prior to the inauguration. Two more train will be ready as back up. Each Metrorail could travel with 2,300 passengers.

M A N Siddiqui said, “We’ve completed all the arrangements for the inaugural ceremony. Any time we will get the date when Prime Minister formally inaugurate the Metro Rail and will inform you as soon as we get the date. However, we are taking preparation keeping the last week of December in mind. The formal inauguration in the hands of Prime Minister can be any day in last week of December.”

After that, the journalists have been taken to Uttara North Station. There, the journalists were paid a ride and JAICA representatives showed them various facilities and infrastructural condition of the project.

This time the journalists were informed that there would be nine stations from Uttara to Agargaon route. The minimum fare will be Tk 20 and Tk 5 per kilometer. At first stage, the train will travel on the flyovers from Uttara to Agargaon. It will take 20 minutes to cross this route of 11.73 kilometers

 The total cost of this project from Uttara to Motijheel was Tk 21, 985 crore, which was increased to 33,472 crore for extending it to Kamlapur. The route from Agargao to Motijheel will be completed within December 2023 and route to Kamlapur will be completed after that.  

The DMTCL officials said the ticket selling will start after the declaration of inauguration. Initially, MRT pass will be issued from the counters of the stations and that’s rechargeable. Besides, single journey ticket can be purchased through ticket selling machines and MRT pass could be recharged though mobile banking later on. However, all the details of ticket selling haven’t been finalized yet.

DMTCL set up a Metrorail Exhibition Information Center at Diabari Metro Rail Depot in order to make the people informed about Metrorail.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 13 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque