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TL;DR
- Kazipara metro station on MRT line 6 in Dhaka is set to reopen this month, earlier than expected, due to less damage compared to Mirpur-10 station.
- Both stations were attacked during student protests on July 19, leading to indefinite suspension of metro operations until service partially resumed on August 25.
- DMTCL plans to replace damaged equipment at Kazipara using parts from less-used stations and the depot’s display center to expedite reopening.
- Metro service hours will be extended from 3:30 PM to 9:40 PM starting September 20, while Mirpur-10 station’s reopening faces delays pending assessment by Japanese contractor Nippon Signal.
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is preparing to reopen the Kazipara metro station on MRT line 6 this month, significantly ahead of earlier projections. This accelerated timeline is due to the station sustaining less damage to its machinery compared to the Mirpur-10 station.
Both Kazipara and Mirpur-10 stations were attacked by protesters during a student movement on July 19, leading to an indefinite suspension of metro rail operations. While service resumed on August 25, these two stations remained closed due to the damage incurred.
Initially, officials estimated it could take up to a year to repair and reopen the damaged stations. However, after a technical committee’s assessment, hopes arose for reopening the first station within four months.
The Kazipara station is now slated for an earlier reopening due to several factors:
- Machinery on the Motijheel side of the station was largely unaffected by the attack, reducing the need for extensive replacements.
- Equipment on the Uttara side, including automatic fare collection gates, control room systems, and passenger information displays, can be temporarily replaced with components from less-frequented stations or the depot’s display center.
An unnamed DMTCL official stated, “We’re trying to replace all these damaged machinery either from less used stations or depot’s display centre for the time being.”
Meanwhile, the DMTCL is working to extend the operating hours of MRT line 6, with plans to run the service from 3:30 pm to 9:40 pm starting September 20. New DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf confirmed, “We’re working on it,” when asked about the extended hours.
The reopening of the Mirpur-10 station is expected to take longer. Japanese subcontractor Nippon Signal is currently assessing the damage and estimating the time and cost required to replace the affected machinery.
This development marks a significant step in restoring full service to Dhaka’s metro system, which has become a crucial part of the city’s public transportation infrastructure since its inauguration.
News source: thefinancialexpress
