The construction work of the much-hyped metro rail project gets a fresh start amid reopening of all economic activities after lifting of Coronavirus restriction.
Project officials said the construction is progressing fast at various points with the arrival of foreign consultants and experts, and a large workforce after reopening of the economic activities following ease of Covid-19 restriction.
Physical work for the metro rail project almost completely stopped after the government enforced the shutdown to contain the spread of the Coronavirus in late March.
“Work on the metro rail gets back its momentum after lifting of coronavirus restriction. Workers, technicians, engineers and other concerned are working ‘day-night’ to complete the construction work,” said MAN Siddique, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
Officials said now the second phase work at three key points of the project including Agargaon to Kawranbazar and Kawranbazar to Motijheel and Dhaka University is progressing in full swing.
Pier-head has been installing on the 90 pillars of the metro rail line from Agargaon to Karwan Bazar. As of August installation of 37 pier head had been completed.
Besides, 50 per cent of the construction of the metro-rail’s Agargaon to Kawranbazar and Kawranbazar to Motijheel part has so far been completed.
Progress of the construction from Uttara to Agargaon is highest among all other parts of the metro rail, officials said adding that about 11 km metro rail has become visible of the Uttara to Agargaon part out of 12 km. Besides, installation of six stations out of nine is going on full swing.
“We have a target to complete five metro rail stations out of nine by December this year. Fabrication of eight stations has already been completed, inclusion of them are now under process,” said MAN Siddique.
As on August 2020, the overall progress
of the country’s first ever metro rail is 49.15 per cent while the overall physical progress of the first phase construction of the metro rail from Uttara to Agargaon is 75.50 per cent and the progress of the second phase from Agargaon to Motijheel stood at 42.50 per cent, according to a DMTCL report.
Talking to this Correspondent, a site engineer said they are working day-night to give a fresh boost to the construction work. We even concentrate more on working at night blocking traffic.
Officials said since March, construction work of the metro rail project has remained suspended with the government decreeing a public holiday across the country. Only one per cent progress was reported in the last three months (April-June).
“We are making every effort to complete the construction work of the Metro Rail Project within the stipulated time frame. If the current pace of work continues by following all the safety rules amid this coronavirus situation, the rail project might be completed within December 2022,” a DMTCL official told The New Nation on Friday on condition of anonymity.
The metro rail project is being constructed at the cost of Tk 219.85 billion, of which, Japan’s aid agency JICA will provide Tk 165 billion.
