MRT Line 1 (Dhaka Metro Rail) explained

Mass Rapid Transit Line 1
Mapcolour: Red (#DA291C)
Type:Rapid transit
System:Dhaka Metro Rail
Status:Under construction
Locale:Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh
Start: (North) / Purbachal Terminal (Northeast)
End: (South)
Stations:21
Daily Ridership: (estimated)
Owner:Road Transport and Highways Division
Operator:Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited
Character:Elevated (Purbachal route)
Underground (Airport route)
Depot:Pitalganj, Rupganj
Linelength:Airport route: 19.872km (12.348miles)
Purbachal route: 11.361km (07.059miles)
Tracks:2
Electrification: (Airport route)
overhead catenary (Purbachal route)
Elevation:Purbachal route:
Map State:show

The MRT Line 1 (Bengali: এমআরটি লাইন ১) is Dhaka Metro Rail's rapid transit line under construction. It will be the second of the Dhaka Metro Rail system and will be operated by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Its construction started in February 2023. It is scheduled to open in December 2026.[1]

History

In 2005, the World Bank published a study report, recommending that the government of Bangladesh build a mass transit system in Dhaka. In the same year, American consultancy firm Louis Berger Group prepared a strategic transport plan for Dhaka.[2] The World Bank helped to develop this plan, which proposed the construction of five MRT lines in Dhaka.[3] The five metro lines were MRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 4, MRT Line 5 and MRT Line 6. The budget for MRT Line 1 was set at of which Japan International Cooperation Agency agreed to finance 75%. Construction of the line is targeted for December 2026.[4] In 2019, the government finalized the construction project of the line. But with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, progress on the line's project stalled.[5] On 15 June 2022, the license of MRT Line 1 was handed over to DMTCL by the Road Transport and Highways Division.[6] On 23 October 2022, the government signed an agreement with Nippon Koei Bangladesh Limited to join the company as a consultant for MRT Line 1.[7] In the same year, the government entered into an agreement with Tokyo Construction and Max Infrastructure for the land development work of the only depot of the proposed project at Pitalganj.[8] On 28 December 2022, the day of the inauguration of MRT Line 6, the secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department said that the construction of the project is possible to start in the first month of 2023 subject to the approval of the prime minister.[9] Its construction was initially scheduled to begin on 26 January 2023, but was moved to 2 February.[10] Finally, the construction of the MRT Line 1 project was inaugurated by Sheikh Hasina in 2 February.[11]

Stations

See also: List of Dhaka Metro Rail stations.

Airport route

Its length is 19.872 km which is going to be built entirely underground. This route will go from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur with 12 stations.[12] Commuters can transfer to MRT Line 5 from Notun Bazaar Station via an interchange.[11]

CodeNameConnectionsLocationOpened
EnglishBengali
1Airportবিমানবন্দরBImanbandar Thana2026
2বিমানবন্দর টার্মিনাল ৩
3খিলক্ষেতKhilkhet Thana
4নদ্দাVatara Thana
5নতুন বাজার
6উত্তর বাড্ডা
7বাড্ডা
8আফতাবনগর
9রামপুরাRampura Thana
10মালিবাগShahjahanpur Thana
11রাজারবাগ
12কমলাপুর Bus station
Bangladesh Railway


Motijheel Thana

Purbachal route

The 11.361 km route will have 9 stations. It can go from Purbachal New Town to Notun Bazar. Nadda and Notun Bazar stations will be constructed underground while the rest will be elevated. Both Nadda and Notun Bazar stations will have interchanges.[12]

CodeNameConnectionsLocationOpened
EnglishBengali
1নতুন বাজারVatara Thana2026
2নদ্দা
3জোয়ার সাহারা
4বোয়ালিয়াKhilkhet
5মস্তুল
6Sheikh Hasina Cricket Stadiumশেখ হাসিনা ক্রিকেট স্টেডিয়ামPubachal
7পূর্বাচল মধ্য
8পূর্বাচল পূর্ব
9Purbachal Terminalপূর্বাচল টার্মিনাল

Issue

MRT Line 1 will have seven stations on Purbachal Expressway which will be on elevated line. Before construction began, it was known that the expressway might be damaged during the construction of the stations. MM Ehsan Jamil, director of the expressway construction project, claimed that he had demanded the metro authority to construct seven stations in Purbachal section underground. But it became impossible as the construction contract with JICA was done before that. Therefore, he suggested to start the work on the eastern part of MRT Line 1 with the construction of the expressway earlier to avoid damage to the expressway, but it could not be done due to various issues. Later, 4 meters space was left in the median strip of the expressway for the construction of the metro.[13] Later the secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division assured that the construction of the line would be done in a coordinated manner so as not to cause major damage to the expressway. He also informed that the pillar of the line will be built on the median strip and the two columns of the station will be built on the green space on both sides of the expressway so that no space on the road will be used.[14]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dhaka MRT Line 1 construction begins. Railjournal . 2 February 2023 . 5 November 2023.
  2. Web site: পুরোটাই উড়ালপথে নির্মাণ ভারতের ‘মেট্রো ম্যান’ শ্রীধরনের পরামর্শে. bn. Shamim. Rahman. 23 December 2022. 26 December 2022. Bonikbarta.net. 26 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226234004/https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/324689/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E2%80%99-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87. live.
  3. Web site: মেট্রোরেল ছিল বিরাট এক চ্যালেঞ্জ. bn. Sheikh Shahriar. Zaman. 25 December 2022. 26 December 2022. Bangla Tribune. 25 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221225144844/https://www.banglatribune.com/others/capital-city/778684/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C. live.
  4. News: এয়ারপোর্ট থেকে কমলাপুর আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড লাইন হচ্ছে. bn. 14 October 2019. 10 March 2023. Kaler Kantho. 9 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209134301/https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/national/2019/10/14/826599. live.
  5. Web site: মেট্রোর অন্য লাইন গতিহীন. bn. Mamun. Abdullah. 2 September 2021. 10 March 2023. Desh Rupantor. 11 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311062134/https://www.deshrupantor.com/home/hitcount/313088. live.
  6. Web site: সেপ্টেম্বরে শুরু হচ্ছে পাতাল মেট্রো রেলের কাজ. bn. 16 June 2022. 10 March 2023. Dhaka Tribune. 16 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220616072209/https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/06/16/16553592502381. live.
  7. Web site: এমআরটি-১ প্রকল্পের পরামর্শক প্রতিষ্ঠান নিপ্পন. bn. 23 October 2022. 10 March 2023. Banglanews24.com. 30 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221030052325/https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/975145.details. live.
  8. Web site: এমআরটি লাইন-১ প্রকল্পের ডিপো এলাকার ভূমি উন্নয়নের কাজ করবে জাপান, বাংলাদেশ কনসোর্টিয়াম. bn. 23 November 2022. 10 March 2023. Jahidul. Islam. The Business Standard. 11 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311062123/https://www.tbsnews.net/bangla/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6/news-details-120994. live.
  9. Web site: এমআরটি লাইন-১ চলবে জানুয়ারিতে ও লাইন-৫ জুলাইয়ে. bn. 28 December 2022. 10 March 2023. Shomoyer Alo. 11 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311062120/https://www.shomoyeralo.com/details.php?id=209889. live.
  10. Web site: পাতাল রেলের ভিত্তিপ্রস্তর পেছাল. bn. 23 January 2023. 10 March 2023. Rtvonline.com. 11 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311062132/https://www.rtvonline.com/bangladesh/208685/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6. live.
  11. News: পাতাল রেলের নির্মাণকাজের উদ্বোধন: বিমানবন্দর থেকে কমলাপুর সাড়ে ২৪ মিনিটে. bn. 2 February 2023. 10 March 2023. Prothom Alo. 4 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204032807/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/8rzbussn0a. live.
  12. News: এক নজরে এমআরটি লাইন-১. bn. 1 February 2023. 11 March 2023. Ajker Patrika. 3 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230203030301/https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/256579/%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A7%A7. live.
  13. Web site: কাজ শেষ হওয়ার পর আবার কাটতে হবে পূর্বাচলের এক্সপ্রেসওয়ে. bn. Rashedul. Hasan. 19 January 2023. 24 July 2023. Bangla Tribune. 23 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230123155406/https://www.banglatribune.com/others/capital-city/782109/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%93%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0. live.
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