Metrorail's initiative to reopen the closed station, what is the cost?
September 16, 20246 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: The government has taken the initiative to renovate and reopen the Kazipara and Mirpur-10 metro stations that were affected by the attack during the quota reform movement. The top officials said that the work of Kazipara station is almost at the final stage. News from BBC Bengal

They also told BBC Bangla that an official announcement about the launch of the station could come within a week. Similarly, the Mirpur-10 metro station is undergoing rapid renovation.

If everything goes well, it will be possible to open that station for the use of passengers in the next few months, said the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the Metrorail managing company.

However, after the attack on July 19th, the Awami League government informed that it will take at least one year to renovate the two damaged stations and reactivate them.

On July 27, former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters, "Kazipara and Mirpur 10 stations of metro rail were destroyed. Experts have said that it will not be possible to bring the equipment and make it operational even in a year.

Apart from this, it was also informed by the government agency that it will cost about 350 crore rupees to repair the two stations.

Although Nobel laureate professor Dr. After the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took power, officials are now saying that the station renovation will not require such a huge amount of money.

So what exactly is the cost of renovating the two damaged Metrorail stations? Moreover, in such a short period of time, how is it possible to launch the stations?

During the quota movement, on July 18, there was an incident of vandalizing and setting fire to the police box under Mirpur metro station number 10. As a result, DMTCL announced the suspension of metro rail for an indefinite period that afternoon.

The next day there were attacks and vandalism at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations. After the incident, the authorities formed an investigation committee to assess the damage.

But due to the widespread deterioration of the law and order situation in the country in the face of agitation and violence, the members of the committee could not work properly.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5 in the face of mass protests, the interim government assumed power on August 8. After completing the investigation, the committee members have recently submitted a report to the government with details of the damage.

According to reports, the attack has damaged everything from ticket-cutting vending machines to used computers, office rooms, glass doors and windows, mass rapid transit cards, ticket punching doors, closed circuit cameras (CCTV) etc. in the attack.

Besides, the counters where DMTCL employees used to sell tickets were vandalized. Similarly damaged were more than a dozen automatic doors on either side of the station.

Compared to that, rather less damage was done at Kazipara station. In the attack, the vending machine on one side of the station, the ticketing counter and some automatic doors used for the entry and exit of passengers were vandalized, officials said.

DMTCL's newly appointed Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Abdur Rauf said, "Since the damage was comparatively less, we decided to complete the renovation of the Kazipara station and start it up quickly."

However, he also said that it will take several months to start the Mirpur-10 metro station.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) said during the rule of Sheikh Hasina's government that the infrastructural damage caused to the metro rail Kazipara station in the last 19th July attack will cost about one hundred crore rupees.

But after the interim government came to power, it is now known that not even a crore is being spent on renovating the station.

A senior official of DMTCL said, “Currently we are spending a very minimal amount to fix the station. But it will not go to crores, it will remain in crores.”

On the other hand, the authorities said that the damaged equipment of Mirpur 10 station will have to be imported.

In this case, it will take several months to bring equipment from abroad, as well as it will require a lot of expenses. However, the final calculation of how much money can be spent is yet to be determined.

“It depends on the extent of damage to any of the equipment. We have a team working on it,” said Mohammad Abdur Rauf, new managing director at DMTCL. He also said that the amount of money will be known very soon.

"Based on our preliminary calculations, it seems that the repair work of the two damaged stations will not exceed Tk 138 crore."

However, last month in July, it was informed by DMTCL that the repair of the two stations may cost about 350 crore rupees.

How was it calculated then?

"Those who were in charge then can say that. After I took over the initial calculation, the cost may be as much as 138 crores,” said Mr. Rauf.

It is to be noted that MAN Siddique was appointed MD of DMTCL in 2017 during Awami League regime. After the interim government took power on September 9, his contractual appointment was cancelled. Put Rauf in charge.

After receiving the new responsibility Mr. Rauf stressed on renovating damaged stations in the Metrorail and opening them up quickly.

Top officials said that the cost has come down
due to the fact that the renovation work of the Kazipara station has been reduced as a result of moving away from the decision to import and procure machinery, equipment and materials locally.

“A large number of metro rail passengers boarded from Kazipara and Mirpur 10 stations. Keeping those passengers in mind, we have procured some of the system items locally and with them we are launching the Kazipara station as soon as possible," DMTCL's new MD Mr. Rauf.

However, in this case, the equipment and tools in the collection of DMTCL are mostly being used, he said.

“We had some things in our depot, we are using them. Again, the equipment that can be used properly at Mirpur 10 station is being used in Kazipara," said the new MD of DMTCL.

As a result, even if the cost is reduced, the Metrorail authorities hope that it will not have a negative impact on the passenger service.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, "Through this incident, it is understood how looting was carried out in the name of development in the country during the regime of the previous Awami League government."

He suggested re-auditing the accounts in the same way in other projects of the Awami League period.

“It's hard work, but not impossible. At least if the accounts of big projects are re-audited, it will be clear where and how corruption has been committed and it will be easy to identify the criminals and bring them under the law,” said Iftekharuzzaman.

Our renovation work is almost complete. Rauf also said that the tests that are going on now will be completed in two-one days.

If no major defects are found at the end of the tests, then the Kazipara station of metro rail may be opened for the use of passengers from this month, the authorities said.

“We hope to be ready by September 18. Then the matter will be reported to the advisor. If he gives his permission, the Kazipara station will be operational any day,” said Rauf.

Meanwhile, renovation work at Mirpur-10 station will take several months as damaged equipment will be imported from abroad.

“But as was said earlier about a year, that much time will not be required. I hope to open the station within half of that time," said Rauf.

On the other hand, the new managing director of DMTCL said that the metro rail will run on Fridays from September 20.

The authorities have planned to keep the metro rail running from 3 pm to 9:30 pm on the public holiday .

It should be noted that since the launch of Metrorail in Bangladesh, the movement has been stopped on Fridays. But after taking charge of the road transport ministry of the interim government, advisor Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan recently directed to keep the metro rail running even on Friday.

Basically, in that context, the Metrorail authorities have decided to continue the service even on holidays.

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