No time to read? Just listen to the news!
TL;DR
- Mirpur-10 metro station is expected to reopen by mid-October 2024, three months after being vandalized during student protests in July.
- DMTCL replaced damaged equipment with units from less-used stations and the training institute to expedite the reopening process.
- The station’s closure was part of wider unrest that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the suspension of metro operations for over a month.
- Currently, the metro system serves over 300,000 passengers daily, highlighting its importance to Dhaka’s transportation infrastructure.
The Mirpur-10 metro station in Dhaka is set to resume operations by mid-October 2024, approximately three months after it was vandalized and closed during the student protests in July. Officials from the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) have announced plans to conduct preparedness tests at the station within the week.
Mohammad Abdur Rouf, managing director of DMTCL, stated, “We have a plan to reopen Mirpur-10 station by mid-October. We are trying to reopen the station as soon as possible.” The results of these tests will be presented to the adviser of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges for a final decision on the station’s reopening.
The closure of Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations occurred on July 19, 2024, amidst a student movement for quota reform that evolved into a larger uprising, ultimately leading to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. While metro operations resumed on August 25, these two stations remained closed. Kazipara station reopened on September 20.
To expedite the reopening process, DMTCL has replaced damaged equipment with units from less-used stations like Bijoy Sarani and Uttara South, as well as from the metro rail training institute. Local materials were used to repair office windows, prioritizing speed over importing specialized glass.
The Mirpur-10 station is part of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6, a Tk 33,472-crore project connecting Uttara to Kamalapur. The Uttara-Agargaon section opened in December 2022, followed by the Agargaon-Motijheel section in November 2023. Construction of the Motijheel-Kamalapur section is ongoing, with operations expected to commence by June 2025.
Despite initial pessimism from former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, who suggested reopening might take over a year, DMTCL officials have worked diligently to restore service. The metro system currently serves over 300,000 passengers daily, highlighting its importance to Dhaka’s transportation infrastructure.
As the reopening date approaches, commuters and officials alike anticipate the full restoration of this vital public transit link, marking a significant step in the city’s recovery from recent political upheavals.
Source: The Daily Star
