Agargaon-Motijheel metro rail opens

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inauguragated the much antipated metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel in its capital, Dhaka. 

 

In a city plagued by traffic jams, the new line offers commuters the opportunity to travel from Uttara to Motijheel in just 38 minutes - however the issue of the last mile still exists as commuters syill face delays when leaving the final stop. 

 

Initally five trains will run from Agargaon to Motijhell every 15 minutes although this number will increase over time. 

 

Construction on the line began in 2017 after a feasilbility study done under the Dharka Urban Transport Study (DHUTS) in 2011 as a part of the country's Strategic Transport Plan (STP).  

 

The cost of the the country's first ever metro rail project stands at TK 33,472 crore (EUR 2,834,484) of which the Japan International Cooperation Agency provided TK19,719 crore (EUR 1,669,966) as a loan to help support the project, while the Government of Bangladesh funded the remaining amount. 

 

At the same time, work was started on a new 20km MRT known as MRT North, to be built from Hemayetetpur on the city's outskirts to Vatara. This new Metro will have a 13.5km underground section as well as 6.5km elevated railroads.