Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the overall progress of the country’s first metro-rail construction work stands at 61.49 percent.
“Overall progress of the metro-rail construction work reached 61.49 percent. The physical progress of the first phase construction of the metro-rail from Uttara to Agargaon is 83.52 percent,” he told a regular press conference at his official residence here.
Quader said combined progress of electrical and mechanical system and procurement of rolling stock (rail coaches) and depot equipment is 52.22 percent.
The first elevated metro-rail will have 24 sets of 144 coaches and each set will have six coaches, he said.
He said the country’s first six-coach metro-rail set has reached the newly constructed jetty of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) at Uttara Depot on Wednesday (April 21).
The minister said the Kobe-based Japanese company Kawasaki also shipped the second set on Wednesday.
He hoped the second set will reach Uttara Depot through the country’s Mongla Port by June 16 next.
Quader said the third and fourth metro-rail sets are expected to be shipped on June 11 next and those might reach Uttara Depot through Mongla Port by August 13.
He said the expected date of shipment of fifth set of metro-rail is July 16 next and it is expected to reach Bangladesh on September 17.
Later, the minister joined a virtual view-exchange with officials of BRTC and BRTA Gopalganj Zone.
Pointing to Gopalganj Zone engineers, he said people of different classes and professions from home and abroad frequently visit the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in the district to pay homage to the great leader.
So, the maintenance and monitoring works of the roads under Gopalganj Zone should be strengthened, he added.
The minister underscored the need for bringing transparency in the services of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
The issuance of driving license card should be smoother and quicker and if required, card issuance should be done in phases, he added.
