Uttara-Agargaon in just 10 mins on metro rail: Obaidul Quader

It will initially take 10 minutes to reach Agargaon from Uttara on metro rail and 17 minutes once all stations are opened, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

At a press briefing at the Agargaon metro station on Tuesday, he said the metro rail route from Agargaon to Motijheel will be completed within December 2023 and the part from Motijheel to Kamalapur by 2025.

After the metro rail project is completed, the distance from Uttara to Kamalapur will be 22 kilometres, he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the much awaited project – involving Tk33,472 crore – at 11am Wednesday at Uttara's Sector 15.

Quader said the prime minister will address a rally on the day as well.

According to sources, there will be 24 sets of trains with six coaches each, which will be increased to eight in the future.

The fare will be Tk5 per kilometre and the fare from Agargaon to Uttara will be Tk60, Quader said at the press briefing.

The minister said it will take 38 minutes to travel from Uttara to Motijheel after the completion of the whole project. Around 60,000 people will travel through it per hour.

Managing Director of the metro rail project MAN Siddique said studies have shown that Tk42 million crore will be saved owing to the metro rail.

"We have charged the lowest possible fares. There will not be much profit. All our stations are ready. All the stations will be opened on 26 March next year," he said.

He further said there will be no half-fare for students at the metro rail. However, those who will buy MRT Pass Cards will get a 10% concession in fare.

"The wounded freedom fighters will get free journeys while people with special needs will get a 15% discount on a single trip by using the cards," said MAN Siddique.

"Children under the height of 90 centimetre [3 feet] will not need any tickets," he added.