Three more metro rail coach set to be ready by December

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Cox Gazette | Online Desk December 5, 2020, 05:14 PM

Manufacturing of the three more metro-train sets, having six passenger coaches, will be completed by this December in Japan as two sets of trains have been completed in September.

“Manufacturing of the two metro train sets were completed in September and manufacturing of three more sets are progressing fast in the factory in Osaka,” Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique said on Saturday.

He said integrated test and trial run will be launched in phases after bringing all train sets in the country and mock-up train was already brought at Uttara depot.

“The Metro Rail is expected to carry 60,000 passengers per hour by traveling the entire route of 20km in less than 40 minutes,” he informed.

According to the project details, one in every six coaches will be reserved for women only, but men and women can move together on the train.

It said the overall physical progress of the first phase construction from Uttara to Agargaon is 77.57% complete, and the second phase progress from Agargaon to Motijheel is at 47.49%, while the overall progress accumulates to 53.58%.

The project details also said the 11km viaduct, partial structure of the 20.1-kilometer-long metro rail system for Dhaka city, is already visible between Uttara and Agargaon.

It said the sub-structure of nine stations has been completed, while concourse roofs of Uttara North, Uttara Centre and Uttara South have been installed finished. Concourse roof construction of Pallabi, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara and Shewrapa stations is now in progress.

Construction of platforms of Uttara Center and Uttara South were completed, while construction of Uttara North platform at the last stage. 

Steel structure works of Uttara North and Uttara South are underway. Mechanical, electric and plumbing works at Uttara North, Uttara Centre and Uttara South stations have already begun.

Besides, telecommunication, power substation, signaling and rooms for station controller construction works are also underway.

Considering uninterrupted water flow and traffic management, construction work in three long-span balance cantilevers out of five have been completed, while the remaining two long-span balance cantilevers are underway.

DMTCL MD MAN Siddique Siddique expressed hopes that if the current pace of work continues by following safety rules during the ongoing coronavirus situation, the rail project might be completed within December 2022.

He said the workforce engaged in the MRT Line-6 construction works are being checked for Covid-19 symptoms at the primary stage and the secondary stage, selected personnel are being tested for Covid-19 through dedicated sample collection centers for the project.

In order to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a 10-bed isolation center (field hospital) at the Gabtoli construction site and a 14-bed isolation center (field hospital) at Uttara Ponchoboti construction yard have been constructed, he informed, adding that if necessary, more residential establishments will be built.

The project details said there will be a total of 16 stations on the 21 km route of the Mass Rapid Transit-MRT Line-6. The stations are Uttara North, Uttara Center, Uttara South, Pallabi, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel.

The iconic stations will be at Diabari, Mirpur and Motijheel, while other stations will be constructed ordinarily.

“If everything goes normal, people of the capital will be able to travel from Diabari to Motijheel on the dream metro rail before scheduled time,” Siddique said.