The implementation work of the capital city's first metro rail is progressing fast with the target to open the mass transportation system from Uttara to Agargaon (11.73 kilometres) in December, 2022.
It is, however, facing some challenges in completing the integrated tests of the operation system of the entire Mass Rapid Transit Line 6.
Officials said the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) has almost completed the performance tests of the trains as well as its system one by one. But the final integrated test to run all sets of trains all together with the entire system will start in October.
Managing Director MAN Siddque said the performance test of the train sets are being carried out with the target to complete it by September so that final integrated test can be started in October.
"We are hopeful about completing the total integrated test in a month (October) and starting the MRT 6 from Uttara to Agargaon before December 31 next," he added.
The MD, however, said the final test may take more time - may be 2-3 months - for attaining perfection.
The integrated test is carried out to see whether the entire system that consists of 17-18 different types of services is operating and functioning properly with no passenger inside.
Sources said that though the most part of the work will be completed by December, the DMTCL is yet to be ready with trained manpower for operating the highly technical system.
The DMTCL has planned to operate and maintain the line by its trained manpower. It has so far completed in-house and external training of two batches of manpower. Three other batches are now under training in India.
According to the MD, around 250 people have so far been trained in this regard.
Responding to a question about the staff capacity to operate the system independently, he said that few consultants will continue to provide on the job training as per the contracts.
He told the FE that a group may stay in the country if needed and felt necessary during the operations.
According to the progress report of MRT 6 until June, all infrastructures in the depot site were completed. Some 95 per cent work of the contract packages 3 and 4 under which track development and nine stations are being carried out was completed.
As the elevated structure of the MRT 6 was completed from Uttara to Agargaon, the DMTCL has withdrawn its work on the road along the corridor to free it for traffic.
Sources, however, said the DMTCL has started widening the footpaths at some stations that started late as those were not included in the development project proposal.
Though the DPP is yet to be revised with the new land acquisition plan, an official said, the footpath widening work has already been started to make journeys comfortable at different stations.
Meanwhile, the implementation progress of the remaining part from Agargaon to Motijheel is also stated to be good enough, recording over 80 per cent.
smunima@yahoo.com