PM will inaugurate Metrorail extension construction Jan 26

Metro rail

Jehangir Hussain

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the construction of the extension of Metrorail stations and its lines under the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) on January 26, as part of the government initiative to extend the network surrounding Dhaka city to reduce traffic congestions and reducing the pressure of people migrating to the capital.

She would inaugurate the work at a ceremony to be held at Rupganj on the day, according to the organisers.

The leaders of Narayanganj district and Rupganj upazila units of Awami League on Tuesday held a view-exchange meeting with Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan at his residence in Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital on the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Rupganj seeking his assistance to success the programme, according to a Bashundhara Group press release.

Awami League Mp from Narayanganj-4 AKM Shamim Osman, Rupganj AL General Secretary Shahjahan Bhuiyan, Vice-President Khan Mohammad Shamim Aziz, Rongdhanu Group Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Bashundhara Group Director Liakat Hossain, Kanchan Municipal Mayor Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, former Rupganj AL Vice-President Khandaker Abul Bashar Tuku, Daudpur UP Chairman Nurul Islam Jahangir, Rupganj UP Chairman Saladuddin Bhuiyan were present the meeting.

According to the DMTCL officials, the Metrorail network is planned to expand to the adjacent districts of Dhaka with a view to reduce traffic congestion and lessening migrating population pressure on the capital.

In the first phase, Narayanganj and Gazipur would get priority for the extension of metro rail lines. Other districts - Narsingdi, Munshiganj and Manikganj - would be connected later.

The construction of a 129.90-kilometre metro rail route by 2030 has been finalised, which includes the Mass Rapid Transit Line-4, stretching from  Kamalapur in the capital to Narayanganj.

The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) are working together to finalise the alignments of the metro rail routes towards the suburban areas, said officials.

The DTCA has already launched a project to update the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) for Dhaka and its surrounding areas with support from  the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR).

After the completion of the first phase, the metro rail network will be expanded to Gazipur Chowrasta, Baipail in Savar, Rupganj and Barapa in Narayanganj, and Jhilmil in Keraniganj. The new routes will be finalised after the RSTP is updated. Once this plan is executed, the total length of the metro lines will be 250 kilometres when the Metrorail will be able to transport about 75 lakh commuters per day.

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