Steps underway to increase metro rail movement frequency: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said steps are underway to increase the movement frequency of metro rail in view of growing commuters’ dependence on its service.

Talking to reporters at his office, Quader said the coach numbers could not be increased due to technical reasons but the steps were taken to run a train in every eight-minute while the current frequency is 10 minutes.

Quader, also the Awami League General Secretary, said increasing the number of metro coaches depends on technical matter.

There is no metro rail having more than 5 coaches anywhere in the world but the metro rail in Bangladesh has already been running with six 6 compartments, he said.

But, the road transport minister said, due to the increased demand, work is going on whether the frequency of the movement of metro rail can be reduced to 8 minutes from 10 minutes.

About the BNP’s leaflet distribution programme, the BNP’s politics is going deep into the ditch. “Before it was on the edge of the ditch but now it is going deep into the ditch,” he added.

Terming BNP a major political party till now, Quader said they (BNP men) are inactive and making mistakes while they have stuck in the quicksand of wrong politics.

Asked about the fact whether 13 BNP leaders and activists died in jail, he said: “Where and how did they die? Which prison or custody? Throwing stones in the dark will not make it happen.”

Referring to the soaring prices of essential goods, the AL general secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to check the price hike.

“But the market cannot be controlled overnight. Many things depend on the world situation. The government is working to this end considering public interest,” he said.

Replying to a question about the scope of expansion of the current cabinet Quader said the premier can say it but the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Culture may have ministers in the future.

Earlier in the morning, Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander V Mantytskiy paid a courtesy call on Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Later, the envoy told reporters that they discussed the issues related to Bangladesh’s infrastructure, energy, agriculture, roads and bridges. (BSS)