Hammer-fist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 1,221
- Reaction score
- 0
Metro rail to ease plight of Dhaka commuters
Efforts to transform Bangladesh's outdated transport infrastructure have often run into hurdles, but a key urban rail project is set to move forward.
By Syed Tashfin Chowdhury for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka
December 27, 2012
A larger | smaller | reset post a comment
Amina Kibria Ovi's workday begins long before she arrives at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital in Old Dhaka.
Bangladeshi commuters struggle to find a space on public transport during Ramadan in Dhaka, July 30th. A new Metro Rail Transport (MRT) system is expected to help relieve overcrowding and congestion. [Munir uz Zaman/AFP]
From her home in Uttara, on the city's outskirts, it takes the intern nearly one-and-a-half hours to reach her workplace. "But when the traffic is bad, it takes two-to-three hours to cover this distance of nearly 20km by bus, making me late for my duty that starts at 8am," Ovi told Khabar South Asia.
Bank employee Rizwan Saad told Khabar that his 18km commute between Uttara and Motijheel takes him nearly the same amount of time. "With every passing year, this journey period is increasing by 15-to-20 minutes due to increase in private vehicles, lack of fast public transport and roads," he said.
Both Amina and Rizwan eagerly await construction of Bangladesh's first-ever metro rail system, the Metro Rail Transport (MRT) Route 6, which received approval from Bangladesh's Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 18th. The nod comes weeks after Japan approved a soft loan worth $2.1b of the project's $2.7b total.
ECNEC approved the 20.1km elevated railway track to be built on the Uttara-Motijheel route via Pallabi. Implemented in three phases, construction may begin as soon as 2013 with a completion date the following year.
Japan lends a helping hand
Japan is providing 76% of project costs, allocating $133m during the current fiscal year. Bangladesh is funding the remainder.
The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is leading the project. Previously, it helped set up a similar system in Kolkata, India.
In 2010, a JICA study found metro rail trains at three-minute intervals could transport about 60,000 passengers per hour. The Bangladesh government selected the system, but implementation was delayed three years while route development issues were being resolved.
The MRT is part of a 20-year comprehensive Strategic Transport Plan (STP), officially launched in 2008. Its stated goal is to establish an effective network of road, railway and water transport systems over a 17,500 sq. km area, which includes Dhaka as well as the districts of Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Narsingdi and Manikganj.
The plans are ambitious, though implementation has been slow.
According to Mohammed Shamsul Hoque, head of the Transport Division of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the STP also calls for Bus Rapid Transit routes. At least one of these between north Dhaka and Gazipur -- appears to be in the works, with the Asia Development Bank providing a $160m loan.
A second route, between Uttara and Sadarghat, is contingent on financing from the World Bank, which is awaiting results from a probe into alleged corruption related to the Padma Bridge project.
The multipurpose bridge, which will carry both road and rail, will be Bangladesh's largest and is expected to boost the national economy significantly. But the ambitious project, expected to cost $3 billion, has been dogged by financing issues and claims of malfeasance in the selection of contractors.
Metro rail to ease plight of Dhaka commuters - khabarsouthasia.com
Japan a true friend of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis studying Japanese in Dhaka.
Efforts to transform Bangladesh's outdated transport infrastructure have often run into hurdles, but a key urban rail project is set to move forward.
By Syed Tashfin Chowdhury for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka
December 27, 2012
A larger | smaller | reset post a comment
Amina Kibria Ovi's workday begins long before she arrives at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital in Old Dhaka.
Bangladeshi commuters struggle to find a space on public transport during Ramadan in Dhaka, July 30th. A new Metro Rail Transport (MRT) system is expected to help relieve overcrowding and congestion. [Munir uz Zaman/AFP]
From her home in Uttara, on the city's outskirts, it takes the intern nearly one-and-a-half hours to reach her workplace. "But when the traffic is bad, it takes two-to-three hours to cover this distance of nearly 20km by bus, making me late for my duty that starts at 8am," Ovi told Khabar South Asia.
Bank employee Rizwan Saad told Khabar that his 18km commute between Uttara and Motijheel takes him nearly the same amount of time. "With every passing year, this journey period is increasing by 15-to-20 minutes due to increase in private vehicles, lack of fast public transport and roads," he said.
Both Amina and Rizwan eagerly await construction of Bangladesh's first-ever metro rail system, the Metro Rail Transport (MRT) Route 6, which received approval from Bangladesh's Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 18th. The nod comes weeks after Japan approved a soft loan worth $2.1b of the project's $2.7b total.
ECNEC approved the 20.1km elevated railway track to be built on the Uttara-Motijheel route via Pallabi. Implemented in three phases, construction may begin as soon as 2013 with a completion date the following year.
Japan lends a helping hand
Japan is providing 76% of project costs, allocating $133m during the current fiscal year. Bangladesh is funding the remainder.
The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is leading the project. Previously, it helped set up a similar system in Kolkata, India.
In 2010, a JICA study found metro rail trains at three-minute intervals could transport about 60,000 passengers per hour. The Bangladesh government selected the system, but implementation was delayed three years while route development issues were being resolved.
The MRT is part of a 20-year comprehensive Strategic Transport Plan (STP), officially launched in 2008. Its stated goal is to establish an effective network of road, railway and water transport systems over a 17,500 sq. km area, which includes Dhaka as well as the districts of Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Narsingdi and Manikganj.
The plans are ambitious, though implementation has been slow.
According to Mohammed Shamsul Hoque, head of the Transport Division of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the STP also calls for Bus Rapid Transit routes. At least one of these between north Dhaka and Gazipur -- appears to be in the works, with the Asia Development Bank providing a $160m loan.
A second route, between Uttara and Sadarghat, is contingent on financing from the World Bank, which is awaiting results from a probe into alleged corruption related to the Padma Bridge project.
The multipurpose bridge, which will carry both road and rail, will be Bangladesh's largest and is expected to boost the national economy significantly. But the ambitious project, expected to cost $3 billion, has been dogged by financing issues and claims of malfeasance in the selection of contractors.
Metro rail to ease plight of Dhaka commuters - khabarsouthasia.com
Japan a true friend of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis studying Japanese in Dhaka.
idiots made 3 years of delay but can't wait for it
