Metro rail to be opened in 2021: Quader

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader. File Photo
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader. File Photo

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the country's first metro rail will formally be launched on 16 December 2021, reports UNB.

The minister came up with the information after a meeting on the progress of work of the project at its Agargaon site office.

Quader said, "We shouldn't think traffic jam will disappear on completion of the construction of MRT Line-6. It'll come down only on completion of the total six routes of the metro rail project by 2030."

He went on saying, "It took 25 years for Singapore to complete its metro rail construction and it will take less than 18 years for our country."

The minister said the construction of the 20-kilometre long MRT Line-1 from Kamalapur to airport will start soon.

The country's first underground metro rail will be built on this route, he said adding that the cost of the project will be equal to that of Padma Bridge and MRT Line-6.

MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), highlighted the progress of eight packages of the project at the meeting.