Bangladesh
Dhaka Metro Rail Metro rail service to remain shut on Oct 14 and 15
Dhaka, Oct 11: Commercial movement of metro rail will be closed on October 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday). Meanwhile, Metrorail is closed on Fridays. As a result, passengers will not be able to travel by metro rail for three consecutive days (Friday-Sunday).
Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MN Siddique said this to reporters at Iskaton in the capital on Tuesday.
He said, "Commercial movement of metro rail from Uttara North to Agargaon section will be stopped on Saturday and Sunday for system integration. After that, the Metrorail will run regularly as per the previous schedule from Monday, October 16."
Meanwhile, the opening date of Metrorail MRT Line-6 up to Agargaon-Motijheel has been postponed to October 29. This section of Metrorail was supposed to be inaugurated on October 20.
Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori confirmed the matter to Dhaka Post on Monday (October 9) afternoon.
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate this part of the metro rail. If the section from Uttara to Motijheel is opened, the movement of metro rail will increase. City dwellers will leave the car and travel by metro. It will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the city. High-speed trains will also reduce carbon emissions by saving man-hours and reducing car traffic. It takes one and a half to two hours to go from Uttara to Motijheel by bus or private car in this congested city. That distance can now be covered in just 40 minutes.
On August 20, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the Motijheel section of Metrorail will be inaugurated on October 20.
Official sources of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will take a train from Agargaon to Motijheel on the inauguration day as per the schedule. Unveil the nameplate there. Then board the train and get down at Dhaka University Metro Station and address the gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan. Earlier on December 28 last year, metro rail movement from Uttara to Agargaon was inaugurated.
