Installation of metro rail tracks begins

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday inaugurated installation work of the tracks of the country’s first-ever metro rail. 

He also inaugurated the overhead catenary system, which would be used to supply electricity to trains.

“This is a milestone for the dream project,” Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said at the inaugural event, held at the metro rail’s depot in the capital’s Diabari.

An under-construction workshop at Diabari. The photos were taken yesterday., Photo: Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary,

Around 8.5 kilometres of the 20.10km-long viaduct is now visible, Quader said, adding that they hope to open the metro rail in December next year.

The construction work of the Tk 22,000 crore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6, which began in 2016, has made 40 percent progress as of December last year.

Once completed, the rail service, which has 16 stations, will be able to carry 60,000 passengers per hour, reducing travel time from Uttara to Motijheel to at least less than an hour from the current two hours.

Initially, the authorities started installing “test track” inside the depot, which the trains would use for trial runs before going to the main track, an official said.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), a government-owned company, is implementing the projects.

Quader said the government aims to build six metro lines in the capital and its adjacent areas by 2030, mainly to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. He said 175km rail lines would be constructed under these six projects.

The minister said physical work for MRT-1 and MRT-5 (northern route) would start soon as the project has already been approved by Ecnec and there is no complexity regarding those.

According to DMTCL documents, the physical work of MRT-1 will start in December this year.

Mass Rapid Transit-1 (MRT-1) from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur Railway Station would be built at a cost of Tk 52,561.43 crore.

This will be the country’s first underground metro rail system. The 31.24km route will have an elevated section from Natun Bazar to Purbachalm expected to be completed by 2026.

Work for basic design of MRT-5 would start in March this year. The route -- from Hemayetpur of Savar to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur and Gulshan -- would be built at a cost of Tk 41,238.55 crore.

The 20km line will consist of underground and elevated sections. The project commits to a 2028 deadline.

DIABARI ABUZZ WITH ACTIVITY

A total of 52 structures would be constructed at the depot, which include shed for trains, a central control centre, administrative building, power sub-station and medical centre.

There would be several dedicated power sub-stations for the metro rail, an official involved with the project said.

Railway sleepers have already been set up on the viaduct’s designated spots. Those tracks would be installed on a special type of pad so that it would not create any noise, according to metro rail officials.

Two lanes on both sides of the viaduct were constructed for electric lines and there would be electric poles at certain intervals for the catenary system, they added.

Works for three stations in Uttara areas are also going on in full swing.

An official said there would be two elevators, two escalators and two staircases on both sides of each station. Also, parapet (low) walls have been installed on both sides of the viaduct.

Although it would be a ballastless track, ballast would be used at tracks (around 20km) inside the depot.

Apart from construction works, recruitment of drivers, station controllers and managers and engineers have already started, an official said. Many are being trained in various fields related to the work, and they would also be given training abroad, he added.