Metro rail performance test Sunday

The country's first overhead metro train is set go for a performance test on the viaduct in the capital.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is expected to inaugurate the performance test at four stations across an area of ​​more than six kilometers from Uttara North to Pallabi.

As part of the preparations for the performance test, the metro train was operated between these four stations on Friday, triggering excitement among the Mirpur residents. 

Metro rail has become the centre of interest for the people of Uttara, Pallabi and Mirpur areas of the capital. After several years of misery caused by metro rail construction work, everyone is now eagerly waiting to ride on the new vehicle in the city.

Although the metro rail project is scheduled to end in 2024, the train was supposed to be operational on 11.73km track stretching from Uttara to Agargaon from December last year. Due to the Holey Artisan attack in Gulshan, the work was stopped for six months, and later the work was further delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. Now, the authorities want to start the metro rail by December next year.

Although the work of installing the viaduct in the Uttara-Agargaon portion of the metro rail has been completed, the work of four out of nine stations in the portion has been completed. For this reason, the performance test of the first metro train will be conducted between these four stations.

Asked when the metro rail will be operational, MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) – the company engaged in the construction and operation of the metro rail, said, "The overall condition of the train coaches and tracks will be monitored through performance tests. 

"After successfully conducting this test, an integrated test will be conducted to check whether the system installed at different stations is working properly. The trial run will be conducted after the integrated test."

He also said it would be announced at Sunday's function when the metro rail would be fully operational after all kinds of tests.

Earlier, he told The Business Standard, "About two dozens of tests have to be carried out once a set of trains arrives. Apart from that, at each station about one and a half dozen infrastructures and systems have to be connected with the lines."

The project for construction of 20.10km metro rail from the third phase of Uttara to Motijheel in the capital was taken up in 2012. Later, it was decided to extend the metro rail line to Kamalapur. If this decision is implemented, the length of the country's first metro rail will be 21.26km.

Sources said 88.18% work of the Uttara-Agargaon portion of the line, implemented on a priority basis, has been completed.

The construction work of four stations of the portion – Uttara North, Uttara Center, Uttara South and Pallabi – has been completed while the construction of Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, and Agargaon stations is almost at the end.

Sources from the Implementation Monitoring & Evaluation Division (IMED) under the planning ministry said 24 sets of trains will be required to launch the entire 20km metro rail. Eight sets of trains will be required to launch the Uttara-Agargaon portion.

So far, four sets of trains have arrived in the country. Another set of trains is expected to arrive from Japan early next month. That is why, in the first phase, metro rail will be launched on the Uttara-Agargaon portion, said the sources.

According to DMTCL sources, there is an opportunity for train line interchange at Agargaon station. Except the Agargaon station, the scope will be available at both ends of the line. So, the train will have to be operated between Uttara and Agargaon till the work of Kamalapur station is fully completed.

Features of train

There will be two trailer controls at each end of a six-coach set and there will be three motorcars and a trailer in between.

Weighing 22 tonnes to 26 tonnes, these cars have a width of 2.95 metres. The 20-metre long boggy will have vertical seats on both sides. It will be possible to transport 1,696 passengers in each set of metro.

The train, having predominant red and green colours, has four doors at each end. The train will run at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour.

Special arrangements for women, differently abled persons

One coach of each set of metro rail will be reserved for women while the other coaches would allow both men and women to travel. Each coach will have reserved seats for pregnant women and the elderly.

Height balance will be maintained between the coach floor and the platform for the differently abled persons. The space between the coach and the platform will be minimum. The coaches on both sides of the train will have space for wheelchairs.

The train will have an audio information system for the visually impaired and there will be visual displays and monitors for the hearing impaired.

Time and environment will be saved

According to project sources, the 20-kilometer distance from Uttara to Motijheel will be covered by metro rail in just 40 minutes, saving the working hours of the passengers.

Around 60,000 passengers will be able to travel on the route every hour. 

This project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 173,312 tonnes per year. This will protect the environment.

The government wants to build six metro railways in and around Dhaka under DMTCL by 2030. The total length of these lines will be 128.74km. Of this, 65.57km will fly over the ground and 61.17km will be underground. There will be 104 metro stations with 51 flyover stations and 53 underground stations.