Dhaka Metro rail ready for first run on Wednesday

Dhaka: The much awaited first ever elevated metro rail is ready for commercial operation as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the metro rail on December 28.
“Dhaka is the second largest city in South Asia and the seventh largest in the world in terms of population. And the capital city is getting the most modern transportation system with metro rail for commuters,” Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Man Siddique told this correspondent on Sunday.

He said the metro rail will reduce public sufferings, which will be able to transport more passengers in a less time with comfortable means.
Currently, the authorities of the metro rail are busy for giving finishing touch to stations, stairs, escalators, vending machines, ticketing system, fresh rooms, platforms, elevators, CCTV cameras, waiting rooms and others for providing facilities as per the international standard.
Meanwhile, a trial run is going on from Uttara to Agargaon. Common people believe that along with the reduction of traffic congestion in the capital, revenue collection will increase through the launch of metro rail after Padma Bridge.
According to the project details, initially some 10-set of trains having six coaches will run from Uttara to Agargaon. If one of the 10-set of train goes out of service, the remaining two will run as support. For the time being, the train will run on this route slowly.
However, if the train starts at full speed, one train will run every three and a half minutes. How long the train will stay at the station has not been decided yet.
At each station, the train will wait till the boarding and alighting of passengers is completed. Each train can run at a speed of 100 to 110 km with 2,300 passengers. However, the speed will be lower in areas with bends.
Common people said around 23,000 people are living in every square kilometer of the capital city, which has 306 square kilometers. As a result, traffic congestion is a common phenomenon in the city.
They said three political parties have ruled the country for several periods after independence. None of the parties made much progress at the district or divisional level.
As a result, the country’s major industries have developed in the capital. Every year, thousands of common people rush to Dhaka from villages for livelihood.
After assuming power in 2009, the Awami League government took various initiatives to reduce the pressure on the capital. Initiatives were taken to build metro rail across the capital to ease traffic congestion, according to the project details.
It said that according to the government announcement, one of the three parts of the metro rail is going to be inaugurated this month of victory (December). Now it is only a matter of time to wait for the train to run from Diabari, Uttara to Agargaon.
The metro rail will be able to carry 60 thousand passengers per hour and half a million passengers per day and one train will arrive at each station every four minutes.
Earlier, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the elevated metro rail will reduce pressure on roads. (UNI)