The construction work of the country’s firstever metro rail is progressing in full swing maintaining health guidelinesamid COVID-19 pandemic with completion of its overall 49.15 percentconstruction, an official said, reports BSS.
“Workers, technicians, engineers and other concerned are working ‘day-night’ to complete the construction work of the metro rail from Uttara toMotijheel as its overall 49.15 percent construction has been accomplished,” Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddiquetold BSS on Friday.
The overall physical progress of the first phase construction of the metrorail from Uttara to Agargaon is 75.50 percent, he said, adding theconstruction progress of the second phase from Agargaon to Motijheel stood at42.50 percent.
He said at present, 10.86-kilometer viaduct out of 11.73-kilometer metrorail between Uttara and Agargaon has become visible. “The construction workof MRT Line-6 in city under the Fast Track project is going on in full swing,” he added.
Siddique hoped that if the current pace of work continues by followingsafety rules during the ongoing coronavirus situation, the rail project might be completed within December 2022.
According to the project details, rail coaches have been built in Japan toply Line-6 track from Diabari of Uttara to Motijheel in city as coaches arewaiting for shipment and the shipment will start as soon as the corona situation improves.
Rail tracks are being set up from Diabari to Mirpur section where electriclines are also being installed, it said.
It also said there will have a total of 16 stations on the 21-km route ofthe Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 and the digital devices will be used inall stations.
The stations include Uttara North, Uttara Center, Uttara South, Pallabi,Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarawni, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat andMotijheel.
“If everything goes normal, people of the city will be able to travel fromDiabari to Motijheel by the dream metro rail before stipulated time,” Siddique said.
He said work is underway to install rail tracks and power lines in Mirpurpart. “The areas where viaduct is installed, the rail tracks and power linesare also being set up there,” he went on saying.
While visiting the metro rail project site, labourers are seen workingpersistently. At the same time, construction of the stations and installation of railway tracks are in progress. In Mirpur-Motijheel section, viaduct is being installed by large cranes; on which the rail tracks will be laid.
Technicians and workers said they are following health guidelines to avert the coronavirus infection while working “24 hours a day” to complete the project timely.
The metro rail project is being constructed at the cost of Taka 219.85billion, of which, Japan’s aid agency JICA will provide Taka 165 billion.