Integrated test of MRT 6 to be most challenging

MUNIMA SULTANA
The Dhaka Metro Rail company is so far ahead of its schedule in completing the major works to launch the first phase of MRT from Uttara to Agargaon in mid-December.
However, sources said the project's most challenging part remains in the next three months starting on September 1 to carry out the integrated test of entire system of mass rapid transit line 6 (MRT 6).
They said integration test is carried out to confirm operation of the entire MRT automatically as well as at the time of failure during all kinds of circumstances.
Project insiders said so far the contractors have found no problem in the trial of all its individual system, which completed in mid-August after completing the test of the signalling system.
The performance tests began with the train test run on the depot track and on the elevated track with different levels of speed and break systems.
They added performance of the entire electric and telecommunication systems, train operation, signalling system, door, electric board display etc will be tested uninterrupted not only during the integration but also when those will face failure during different kinds of circumstances including collapse of the entire system.
"The integrated test which will start on September 1 is the last but most challenging test of the metro rail system," said one of them preferring not to be named.
He added if all goes without any trouble during the integration test by November, the contractors have target to hand over the MRT 6 to the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) on December 15 after running 10 sets of trains every day from December 1.
Though the DMTCL contractors are yet to make all nine stations up to Agargaon ready to carry out the integration test, he said, the first integration test will be done on power system to ensure smooth power supply from all its system during failures.
The MRT 6 has two receiving sub-stations at Uttara depot and Titipara in Kamlapur, as well as rectifiers to distribute electricity to the trains uninterrupted and during all crisis moments.
Officials said the works at other stations will be completed by that time and they will be able to complete the first phase integration in a month.

The next phase will start on October 1 to train MRT drivers through stimulators.
They said around 400 DMTCL staff members have been kept ready, and of them 20 are for train operation.
Meanwhile, all necessary infrastructures at the MRT depot including IT system were prepared in June.
The DMTCL has been constructing the country's first metro rail from Uttara to Motijheel since 2016 under its master plan of developing six MRTs by 2030.
But the MRT 6 has been planned to extend up to Kamlapur Station which is yet to start as the initiative was taken late.
According to the progress report as of July, 93.86 per cent works on Uttara to Agargaon route was completed while overall progress of the project was recorded 81.70 per cent.
The progress of second phase from Agargaon to Motijheel is also recorded 81.86 per cent and the overall progress of electrical and mechanical work is 83.34 per cent.
Under the package 8, the contractors have so far supplied 15 sets of trains out of 24, with six coaches in each set.
DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique said 10 sets of trains will be readied to operate the first phase of MRT 6 after running those all day in the first two weeks of December.
He added to run the first half of the MRT 6, 10 sets of trains are enough.
smunima@yahoo.com