Govt. saves Tk. 118.24cr in metro rail repair cost

With sincere efforts by the interim government, the metro rail authorities have been able to save around Taka 118.24 crore in repairing, including replacement of equipment, of Mirpur-10 and Kazipara vandalized metro stations and managed to resume operations earlier than the estimated dateline.

“We’ve repaired the damaged Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations of the metro rail, including replacement of some equipment, at a cost of Taka 18.86 crore only,” Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Md Abdur Rouf told BSS here today.

The 8-member probe committee that was formed on July 22 by the DMTCL in its report on August 14 said that Taka 137.10 crore will be required for repairing and replacement of equipment of the two damaged stations. Of the amount, Taka 46.59 crore will be provided by the government, while the project will spend Taka 91.51 crore.

Some local equipment and unused machinery of other non-busy metro stations were used in repairing the two damaged stations, Abdur Rouf said, adding that besides, the authorities engaged local experts and technicians who worked round the clock to make these two busy stations operational within a shortest possible time.

The committee led by Additional Project Director of Metro Rail Line-6 and Joint Secretary Md Zakaria also said that some 270 days will be required to make those two stations operational as it mentioned that some equipment will have to be imported to repair the damaged ticket vending system, e-system, punch machines, various devices and computers at both stations.

But the DMTCL has been able to reopen the Kazipara station on September 20, while the Mirpur-10 station on October 15 at the directives of the government.

Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Affairs Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said that the money was spent from the fund of the Mass Rapid Transit Company.

He said Mirpur-10 metro station was reopened after two months and 17 days after repairing the station at a cost of Taka 1.25 crore, while Taka 20.50 lakh was spent for repairing the Kazipara station.

The two stations were vandalized massively by miscreants during the anti-discrimination student movement on July 19 and after visiting the spot, the authorities of the ousted Awami League government said that Taka 300 crore will be required to repair the two stations.

Mass Rapid Transit Line-6, the country’s first metro rail line, was made partially operational from Uttara to Agargaon in December 2022 and the route was extended up to Motijheel in November 2023. On an average 2.70 lakh passengers travel every day on Uttara-Motijheel route.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) constructed the first ever elevated metro rail in the capital with its technical, mechanical technology and financial support. (BSS)