‘PM to inaugurate metro rail works in March’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate works of metro rail project at the end of March.

“The progress of the metro rail project is visible and the prime minister will inaugurate the project at the end of March,” said Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader.

“The construction works of the project is going on full swing and will finish as per schedule,” the minister told reporters while visiting a mobile court at Dhaka’s Agargaon today.

Responding to a query on its design, the minister said the metro rail routes will be constructed as per the plan. “There will be no change,” he said. 

On January 18, two groups of students of Dhaka University submitted memorandums to the vice chancellor, one endorsing the government's plan to build the metro rail route through the campus and the other affiliated with Bangladesh Chhatra Union protesting it.

The Tk 22,000 crore ($2.5 billion) ambitious project is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital city through an improved, faster, comfortable and time-bound public transportation service.

With the soil testing almost done, officials of Dhaka metro rail project hope they can start operation of the dream project partially by the end of 2019.

The government plans to launch the service initially on the 10km stretch between Uttara and Agargaon, part of the 20km line that goes as far as Motijheel.

Construction of viaduct and elevated stations along Uttara-Agargaon stretch, divided into two segments, is set to start by November next year. The contractors for the job have already been hired.