Bangladesh launches its first metro rail Wednesday
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.