Study finds a ride from Uttara to Jatrabari will take only 45 minutes, Tk 50
A commute by metro from Uttara to Jatrabari will take about 45 minutes and cost Tk 50, according to studies conducted as part of the government plans for improved public transport in the capital.
The planned electric railway will carry some 60,000 people an hour at peak times. Commuters will have to pay Tk 2.50 for each kilometre.
Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, consultant for the government’s metro rail project, briefed journalists about the study findings after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday afternoon.
Held at the secretariat, the meeting discussed the status of various projects on the city’s traffic systems.
“Metro rail project can be implemented within next four years, and once in place, it will ease traffic jam in the city,” said Jamilur Reza adding that one train every three minutes can be run under the system.
The finance minister said the project would be implemented through public-private partnership and would require an estimated $1.7 billion.
In a study commissioned by the government and conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency, the route starts from Uttara phase-III, and has stoppages at Pallabi, Chandrima Udyan, Bijoy Sarani, Shahbagh, TSC, Bangla Academy, Curzon Hall, Topkhana and Bangladesh Bank.
The government has conducted another study with plans to stretch the route till Jatrabari.
Initially, the railway will be set up for this route only. The government, however, has plans to introduce five more routes in future.
Most of this rail network will be laid out above ground.
Muhith said at least two crore people will live in the capital in near future. The government has plans to put in place a public transport that can better cater to the growing metropolis.
High officials of the communications ministry, the Bridges Division and Dhaka Transport Coordination Board were present at the meeting.
