Faulty design blocks footpaths below Metro Rail stations

Nine years after the Metro Rail project’s commencement, the authorities concerned have recently noticed that the station’s entry and exit corridors are blocking footpaths below the stations, obstructing pedestrians’ movement.

At least three project officials have confirmed The Business Post that they noticed the design fault recently and apprehended that it could throw off the inauguration date.

The Metro Rail authorities are acquiring at least 45 decimals of private land in the first phase to ease the movement of people in the station areas.

Transport expert Prof Md Shamsul Hoque said the incompetence of those leading the project caused this problem. 

Faulty designs in the country’s mega projects are nothing new. Earlier, design faults in Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover and Padma Bridge were noticed during the implementation phase.

“They should have addressed the issue at the beginning. The project cost, time and people’s suffering go up because of their inexperience and imprudence,” the Buet teacher told The Business Post.

An official, closely associated with station construction and land acquisition, said they would need 45 decimals of land for Kazipara, Mirpur 10 and 11, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Pallabi and Uttra Metro Rail stations.

The official said they asked the Bangladesh Air Force, Fire Service and Civil Defence and Dhaka North City Corporation to hand over land adjacent to the station areas.

“We will acquire three metres on average from the existing borderline,” he said, adding that they would compensate according to the government rules and have resettlement plans for the people to be evicted from those areas.

Buet Prof Hoque said acquiring land at this point would be a “wrong decision”. 

But MAN Siddique, the managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), which has been implementing the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6, argued the entry and exit points of the stations would make the footpaths narrower. 

“We are acquiring land to widen the footpath to ease people’s movement,” he told The Business Post.  

Prof Hoque said the operation of the Metro Rail would require link roads and other facilities such as vehicle parking. “It won’t be possible to provide necessary facilities by acquiring only three metres of additional space. It will only create more traffic congestion in the station areas,” he said.

The expert said that Metro Rail is not only a transport project but also a land development project which needs block base redevelopment and regeneration plan.

 Humayun Rashid Jony, the owner of Oli Mia Building adjacent to Shewrapara Metro Station and a Dhaka North City Corporation councillor, said they have yet to get any official notice about land acquisition.

“There are many high-rises, including some 10-stored buildings, in the station area. How will they tear them down?” he asked.

Metro Rail project director Aftab Uddin Talukder did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Metro Rail project progress 68.49%

DMTCL has been implementing the Metro Rail project since 2012. It is scheduled to complete the route from Uttara to Motijheel by 2024 in phases.

On August 29, Metro Rail conducted its first performance test on the viaduct. Officials said the opening of parts of Metro Rail could be delayed beyond their expected December 2022 schedule.

Once completed, the electric overhead Metro Rail, manufactured by Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, will carry half a million passengers daily to and from Uttara to Motijheel.

A train comprising six cars will be able to carry a maximum of 2,308 people at a time. A total of 24 trains will move at a speed of 100km per hour every 3.30 minutes during peak hours.

The project started in 2012 but construction work began on June 26, 2016, at the cost of Tk 21,985 crore.

The government had planned to inaugurate the first phase of the project from Uttara to Agargaon by December 2021 to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.

Siddique said they had revised the plan, extending the deadline until December 2022 due to the Covid-19 situation, which hampered the project works significantly.

According to a monthly progress report in July, the overall progress of the fast-track project was 68.49 per cent. The first phase from Uttara to Agargaon recorded an 88.18 per cent progress.

The trains will pick and drop passengers at 16 stations in Uttara North, Uttara Centre, Uttara South, Pallabi, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel.

Following a directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Metro Rail extended activities to another 1.16km from Motijheel to Kamalapur.

The authorities concerned have completed the social study, household survey, land acquisition plan, resettlement action plan, environment impact assessment and basic design in the meantime, according to the progress report.