Govt declares metro rail fare

The government on Tuesday announced the fare of metro rail without keeping any concession for students.
Fare of the first mass rapid transit line-6 (MRT-6) is fixed at Tk 5.0 per kilometer and minimum Tk 20, while it will be Tk 100 from Uttara to Kamalapur in the capital.
The MRT-6 is expected to start operation from Uttara to Agargaon in December next.
Making the announcement, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government is yet to take any decision on students' concessions.
"A decision on students' fare will be taken later," he told journalists after inaugurating the Metro Rail Exhibition and Information Centre at Diabari.
He said the injured freedom fighters will get free-ride while a special rebate will be given to the commuters of special needs. Special offers will also be given on the weekly and monthly, and family pass users.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Ito Naoki, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Yuho Hayakawa were also present at the function.
The DMTCL opened up the MRT Exhibition and Information Centre to let people know various features of new and highly technical metro rail and learn its ticketing and riding system.
The centre has two sets of mini trains under operation, ticket office machine, vending machine and smart card-based automatic gates. The centre will remain open for people from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2pm to 4.0 pm every day except on Sunday.
The RTB minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the first metro rail in the month of victory of the country.
He also informed the function that the prime minister would also open the implementation work of MRT-1. The 31 km line will be constructed both elevated and underground from Kamalapur station to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

smunima@yahoo.com