Metrorail’s Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh stations to open December 31
Staff Reporter :
Dhaka MetroRail’s Karwan Bazar and Shahbagh stations will be open to the public on December 31.
Despite completion of all the stations, the metro rail on Uttara-Motijheel route, will continue to run daily from 7:30am to 11:30am.
Managing Director of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) M A N Siddique made the announcement during a press conference at its Eskaton office in the city on Thursday
He said that though some infrastructure works are yet to complete but the metro rail will stop at Shahbagh and Karwanbazar stations from December 31.
“The metrorail service will fully be operational on the Uttara-Motijheel route within three months after completion of the remaining works. At this moment, at least 1.56 lakh passengers are traveling by the metro rail every day,” M A N Siddique said.
On the Thirty First night last yer, the metro rail services were disrupted as flying lanterns (fanush) fell on the catenary of the metrorail, he said adding that a letter has been sent to Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner to take measures to stop the flying of fanush.
MAN Siddique has requested all to stop the flying of lanterns in one kilometer area on both sides of the metro rail line.
Earlier, DMTCL commenced operations in the Dhaka University and Bijoy Sarani stations on December 13.
Before that on 4 November, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the second phase of the metro rail’s Agargaon to Motijheel part.
After the inauguration of the Agargaon-Motijheel section, the metro rail stops at Farmgate, Secretariat and Motijheel stations.
However, two metro trains run from Uttara North at 7:10am and 7:20am for the convenience of students and professionals. Only MRT Pass and Rapid Pass holders can travel by these two trains.
After 11:30am, metro rail movement remains stopped on the Motijheel-Agargaon route, while it is operational till 8:30pm in the Uttara-Agargaon section.
The metro rail service has been operational between Uttara and Agargaon since last December.
The government undertook the metrorail project in July 2012. Its initial implementation period was till June 2024. However, the period was later extended.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been constructing the metro rail and providing soft loans to the project. The JICA gave Tk19,500 crore for the project.
