Metro rail another feather of Bangladesh’s development crown: PM

DHAKA (BSS): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said another feather was added to the crown of Bangalee’s pride and Bangladesh’s development with the opening of country’s first-ever metro rail, vowing to build a prosperous “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041 confronting all odds.

“One more feather after the Padma Bridge was added to the journey of Bangladesh’s development with inaugurating the metro rail,” she said.

The Prime Minister told a civic rally at the Diabari Playground in Uttara after opening the metro rail, setting another milestone in the country’s communication history between a span of six-month after inaugurating the Padma Bridge.

She said her Government has brightened the country’s image across the globe by building the Padma Bridge with own finances.

“With the opening of the metro rail, the country has entered into the electric, remote controlled and fastest ever communication era,” she added.

Later, the Prime Minister and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana took the first official ride of the Metro Rail from Diabari (Uttara North) to Agargaon stations after buying tickets.

After opening of the 11.73km part of the total 21.26km Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line-6 of the metro rail project from Uttara North (Diabari), the premier said over 5 lakh passengers with 60,000 per hour can travel everyday by the metro rail after beginning of its complete operation.

“The metro rail would help reduce the nagging traffic snarl significantly,” she hoped. She said her Government is working to build six metro rails in Dhaka by 2030, adding that the process is on to conduct feasibility study of two metro rails while work is on to implement four others.

“The Government has taken measures to develop efficient work force to operate the metro rail shunning the dependency on foreigners,” she said.

“Employment for around 12,000 engineers would be made in the metro rail project,” she said.

The Prime Minister also said huge money has been invested alongside using modern equipment and digital device in the metro rail, urging the passengers to preserve it properly and ensure its cleanliness.

She said her Government is determined to build Smart Bangladesh by 2041 and the metro rail is one of the steps towards the journey.

“Due to the pragmatic steps of my Government, Bangladesh has turned around in the last 14 years,” she said.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been constructing the metro rail and providing soft loan for the project.

The construction work of the MRT line-6 began in 2016.

(Source: https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/102302)