DMTC gets licence to run rail thru MRT-6
FE Report | Monday, 22 July 2019
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company (DMTC) Ltd has finally got the licence to run the country's first metro rail, more than four years after its construction began.
The elevated rail will operate on the mass rapid transit (MRT) line-6 spanning from Uttara to Motijheel.
The road transport and highways division (RTHD) under road transport and bridges ministry licensed DMTC to use the metro line for the purpose.
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) made the recommendation in line with the MRT Act 2015.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader handed the licence to DMTC managing director MAN Siddique at a programme here on Sunday.
The ministry issued the licence as recommended by a DTCA special committee with members from finance ministry, roads and highways department, railway and legislative and parliamentary affairs department.
Sources said as MRT-6 project is the first of its kind in Bangladesh, much time was taken to issue license to meet full compliance, including the formation of DMTC.
The MRT Act specifies that any person can apply in a prescribed form to the government for construction, operation, maintenance and development of metro rail.
As per rules, a seven-member committee will evaluate modus operandi like business plan, financial status, security system for metro rail operations and service capacity after receiving an application.
Though DTMC has started implementing four MRT systems, it has still to apply for licence to operate three other rapid transit schemes.
At the MRT branding ceremony, Mr Quader said MRT-6 would be opened to passengers on December 16, 2021, to mark 50th anniversary of the country's independence.
Dhaka city would have four more metro routes, both elevated and underground, by 2030, he added.
The minister said before launching the first MRT in 2021, trial run will be completed.
The 31-kilometre MRT-1 planned to set up in two parts from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur and from Notunbazar to Pilotganj will be completed by 2026.
MRT-1 will have an 11-kilometre underground stretch and MRT-5 13-kilometre subway from Hemayetpur to Vatara.
Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on road transport and bridges ministry Enamul Haq, lawmakers Rezwan Ahmed Towfiq and M Solim Uddin Tarafder attended the event.
Also present there were RTHD additional secretary Shishir Kumar Roy, MRT-6 project director (PD) Aftab Uddin Talukder and MRT-1 PD Saidul Haq, among others.