Partly-repaired Mirpur-10 metro station reopens


FE REPORT | Published: October 16, 2024 00:22:09


Operations of the metro-rail station at Mirpur-10 in the capital resumed on Tuesday morning, bringing respite to the commuters. The station was vandalised and consequently shut down on July 19 during the student movement. — FE Photo


The Dhaka metro rail company reopened the Mirpur-10 station on Tuesday, after partly repairing the damages at a cost of Tk 12.5 million.
With this, the total cost for repairing the damaged Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations stood at Tk 14.5 million.
Road Transport and Bridges Adviser M Fouzul Kabir Khan disclosed the repairing cost at the Mirpur- 10 station on Tuesday, saying that the remaining repair work would cost an additional Tk 170 million.
"Reopening of the metro rail stations has set an example of real spending," he said, adding that the higher spending might have a reflection in the economic growth, but with no such development.
The adviser further said that moves have already been initiated to reform the DMTCL as it would be a place for the professionals, not for a retired secretary.
Mr Kabir said the past government has taken the country to the doorsteps by destroying the national institutions and termed it a major cause for development failure of the nation.
He said that spending Tk 3.5 billion for the repair work in a year might help increase the GDP growth, but it would not ensure real development as a significant part of the expenditure would go abroad.
The adviser praised the DMTCL officials and Bangladeshi experts of national and international level for their help to reopen the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations within two months and 17 days after those were closed due to damages done by an unruly mob during the quota reform movement.
"The entire corridor of mass rapid transit line 6 (MRT-6) is now functional," he added
The Kazipara station was reopened on September 20.
The adviser said a total Tk 188.6 million is estimated to be required to replace the machinery and equipment and the amount would be spent from the project cost. No additional budget would be sought from the government for the repair work of the two stations.

smunima@yahoo.com

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