Special police for metro rail soon

The government is forming a special police team to ensure the safety and security of Bangladesh’s first metro rail, which is expected to start partial operation in December next year.

Dhaka Mass Transit Development Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique said that the force, MRT Police, was awaiting the Cabinet’s approval after getting clearance from the home, public administration and finance ministries.

Siddique said they took the initiative following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive in September 2019.

DMTCL, a company under the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Bridges, then wrote to police headquarters to form a new unit, he said.

The specially-trained force will ensure safety and security at central depots, landing stations, and coaches of MRT. The government plans to open all six metro rail lines by 2030 in phases.

Officials said that the DMTCL, implementing the 130km Dhaka Metro Rail project, had initially sought 1,472 security personnel. But the number was cut to 357 after scrutiny.

Officials said that DMTCL had proposed deploying an additional DIG, three superintendents of police, three additional SPs, and 66 policemen at each station.

It has been decided that a deputy inspector general will lead the MRT Police, and there would be a superintendent of police, said officials.

Currently, there are more than 12 specialised police units with over 2,00,000 personnel. In many countries, metro rails have their own security forces.

Siddique said that apart from MRT Police, regular police and other law enforcement agencies would work together for metro rail’s security. Criminals have at times targeted metro rails in many countries.

He reiterated that they were set to open the 11.73km Metro Rail Line-6 from Uttara to Agargaon in December 2022.

The project, estimated to cost Tk 22,000 crore, will get Tk 16,595 crore funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The government will provide the rest. The project started in 2012, but construction began on June 26, 2016.

The Metro Rail Line-6 consists of 16 elevated stations and is expected to transport more than 60,000 passengers every hour from both sides.

According to a monthly progress report in November, the overall progress of the fast-track project was 72.99 per cent. The first phase from Uttara to Agargaon recorded an 89.88 per cent progress.

Siddique skirted a direct reply when asked about fares, saying they had prepared a list and the government would make the final call.

He said 36 employees were trained from abroad on metro rail operations.

“Seven trains have arrived in the depot while trial runs continue. The next one will run from Uttara to Agargaon next week,” he said.