There is no doubt that there will be a ground-breaking change in the public transport system of the capital if all the projects of Metro Rail are completed. City dwellers will also be free from unbearable traffic jams. Several mega projects are currently underway in the country. Although many have much interest in each of these, the nation, especially the residents of the capital, are naturally more interested in the Metro Rail projects. Everyone has a deep attention on these projects.
Till February this year, the average progress of the construction of five metro rail lines in the capital stood at 15.32 per cent. Among them, the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Development Project, the Metro Rail Line-6 project, being built from Uttara to Motijheel, progressed the most. It is targeted to be implemented by June 2024. The overall progress of the MRT Line-6 project is 58.72 per cent. However, the section from Uttara to Agargaon is expected to be operational by 2022. The progress of work on other projects of Metro Rail is not satisfactory.
Therefore, we think that effective steps need to be taken to implement the projects that are underway to solve the public transport crisis in and around the capital. The government, however, has put it under the highest priority fast track project. But unfortunately, the Covid pandemic situation has also affected the Metro Rail project. The workers were working in three shifts before the pandemic but later compelled to slow the work down to only one shift. We hope that at least the MRT Line-6 project will be implemented on time. Other projects need to be completed as soon as possible.
The second wave of the pandemic came when the country was trying to overcome the first wave. As a result, the country obviously fell once again in the grip of “lockdown”. Many foreigners are involved in the work of mega projects. They also could not fully join the work because of the global health crisis. These issues must be taken into consideration.
But it is also true that we have a tendency to procrastinate on project work. The foremost reason behind Bangladesh’s lagging behind in infrastructure sector is that development projects in the country are not completed in time. Procrastination in implementing projects in contrast to the investment made in various development projects has become a major headache in this country. In terms of infrastructure development, Bangladesh has most often lagged behind its other South Asian neighbours — Sri Lanka, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and even Pakistan.
Hence, the government needs to take much care in this respect so that such a lethargic attitude does not occur in the case of mega projects, including Metro Rail projects. It should be kept in mind that the overall economic development of the country is particularly involved with the ongoing mega projects. Considering all these issues, everyone associated with these projects will have to show their sense of duty, responsibility and sincerity.
