Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate three major projects of the country next year.
These three projects are Padma Bridge, Karnafuli Tunnel and Metro Rail Line-6.
He said the Padma Bridge will be launched in June 2022. After that Karnafuli tunnel in Chittagong and Metrorail will be opened for use in December.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader came up with the comments while inaugurating the performance test trial of Metro Rail in Uttara depot on Sunday.
The minister said, “The construction work of Metro Rail Route-6 is progressing at faster pace. By December 2022, the Metrorail will start commercial operation from Uttara to Agargaon. We will also construct a strong network of 129 km long and 104 stations comprising six metro rails by 2030.”
Out of the total 20.10 km viaduct from Uttara to Agargaon and from Agargaon to Motijheel scheduled for construction in the first phase, erection of about 18 km viaduct has been completed and construction of viaduct from Uttara Depot to Bijay Sarani has been completed.
Concourse of first nine metro rail stations out of 16 stations of Route-6, platforms of first five metro rail stations, and construction of steel roof structures of the first four metro rail stations and roof seating of three metro rail stations have already been completed. Construction of the remaining metro rail stations is in progress at various stages.
The work of laying the railway line inside the depot has already been completed. About 17 km in the main line above the viaduct rail line has been laid. To make the first five metro rail stations suitable for train movement necessary electrical equipment installed and tested successfully. About 17.5 km overhead Catenary system (OCS) on the viaduct wiring has been completed.
Four sets of metro rail coaches consisting with six-coach each has already arrived at Dhaka depot. Gradually the remaining metro train sets will be brought to Bangladesh. On 11 May 2021, the functional test of Metrorail was started inside the depot. Functional tests of the first two metro train sets have already been successfully completed.
The progress of construction work of Metrorail Route-6 from Uttara to Agargaon is 88.18 percent, in the second phase from Agargaon to Motijheel section the progress of construction work is 66.74 percent and collection of electrical and mechanical system and rolling stock and depot equipment is 60.66 percent. The overall progress is 70.6 percent. The overall progress of Metrorail construction work is 68.49 percent.
Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh Minister and Deputy Chief the Mission Hiroyuki YAMAYA, Chief Representative of JICA Office in Bangladesh Yuho Hayakawa, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited MAN Siddique, senior officials of projects, consulting firms and contractors under DMTCL were present.
