Bangladesh launches its first metro rail Wednesday

By By Our Correspondent Dec 28, 2022 279

It set to open to public after the inauguration by PM Hasina

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

DHAKA, December 28 2022: Bangladesh has rolled out its first metro rail services with great fanfare in a desperate effort to ease commuting in Dhaka, one of the world’s most crowded cities that chokes on its traffic congestion due to inadequate public transport.

Sheikh Hasina flagged off the first metro train at Uttara North Station and became the first passenger on the maiden trip to Agargaon after inaugurating the services at a ceremony marked by enthusiasm Wednesday.

“Another feather has been added to Bangladesh’s laurel. We just inaugurated the metro rail,” the prime minister said at the ceremony on Diabari Ground as excited crowds gathered at both ends of the 11.73 km Uttara-Agargaon route to be part of history.

“Metro rail will be controlled remotely. It’ll be operated in a digital system, adding a new dimension to our commitment to establish a ‘Smart Bangladesh’.”

METRORAIL AT A GLANCE -

Total trains: 24
Coaches per train: 6
Uttara to Kamalapur: 17 stations
Uttara to Agargaon: 9 stations
Station height: three storeys
Uttara to Kamalapur: It will take 40 minutes
Uttara to Agargaon: It will take a maximum of 20 minutes
Passengers each trip: a maximum of 2,308
Passengers per hour: 60,000
Passengers per day: 500,000
Fare: Tk 5 per kilometre, minimum fare Tk 20
Uttara to Kamalapur total expenditure: Tk 334.71 billion
Japan's project assistance: Tk 197.18 billion
Government resources: Tk 137.53 billion
Uttara to Kamalapur length: 21.26 km
Uttara to Agargaon length: 11.73 km
Inauguration: Dec 28, 2022
First passenger: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Loan agreement with Japan: In 2013
Appointment of consultants: In 2014
Opening of construction : Jun 26, 2016
Total construction companies: 7 companies and joint ventures

The Japan-backed metro rail is yet another milestone in Bangladesh's development, according to the prime minister.

The premier also paid tribute to the seven Japanese nationals who were working on the metro rail project in Dhaka when they were killed in a gruesome terrorist attack in 2016. Hasina also paid homage to Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister who was assassinated in July.