Metro Rail bill passed in House

FE Team | Published: January 27, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The Metro Rail Bill, 2015 was passed in the House Monday aiming to ease traffic congestion and provide fast, improved public transportation in the capital, reports UNB
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moved the bill in Parliament that was passed by voice vote.
The Bill will give a legal framework to the overall activities of the proposed Metro Rail Project, including its operations, control and regulations.
The bill states as its objective: "The government has taken initiative to build mass rapid transit (MRT) for easing traffic jam and rendering fast and improved mass transport service in Dhaka city. A specific law is needed for construction, operation and maintenance of the country's first metro rail."
The proposed law will be effective in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi districts initially. The government shall include other districts in the list by issuing gazette notification in the second phase.
The bill proposed a provision of Tk 1 crore fine and 10 years' imprisonment for operating metro rail without license or illegal handover of license for operating Metro Rail.
The authorities concerned will fix the rate of passenger fare against metro rail service following directives of the government from time to time. There will be a seven-member committee to fix the fares.
There is also a provision of one years' imprisonment or Tk 500,000 fine or both for creating obstructions to running metro rail and unauthorised entry into the reserved area of the metro rail.