The MRT stations at Kazipara and Mirpur-10, which were closed since July 19 this year due to vandalism by the some miscreants during the recent anti-government movement of the students-people, are expected to reopen this September. But, the exact date is yet to be finalised.
Moreover, there are plans to launch metro rail operations on Friday from September 20, and efforts are being intensified to meet this schedule, Dhaka Mass-Rapid Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rauf told media on Thursday.
"A technical team has been assigned to address the issues. We are making every effort to reopen the two closed stations within this month.
However, I cannot specify the exact date of the launch at this moment. We will hold a meeting soon with the technical team and other stakeholders to discuss the progress of the repair work. Following that meeting, we may announce a decision on September 18," he assured.
"The goal is to open both stations by the end of this month. If it is not possible to fully resume passenger services (tickets, MRT pass, etc) at both stations, we will at least ensure that passengers can board and get down from trains," he added.
He also shared that among the two stations, Kazipara is likely to open earlier because the damage there is less severe. In contrast, Mirpur-10 may face delays due to significant damage and the need to procure some machinery from abroad.
On September 18, an update will be provided regarding the exact reopening dates for the stations, he reassured.
According to the findings of a government investigation that presented at a meeting of the advisory council on Thursday, extensive damage caused by vandalism at two Dhaka Metrorail Stations at Kazipara and Mirpur-10 during the recent Anti-Discrimination Student protests has resulted in losses amounting to Tk138 crore.
The investigation report, which details the damage to the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations, was submitted during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office, according to the DMTCL officials.
On July 18, during the "Complete Shutdown" called by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, protesters set fire to the police box at the Mirpur-10 circle. A metro train was passing overhead at the time of the incident, leading to the suspension of metro services.
On the evening of July 19, further vandalism occurred at both the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations.
In response to the destruction, the government formed a committee on July 22, led by Md Zakaria, Additional Project Director of MRT (Line-6), to assess the extent of the damage.
While talking to media, Zakaria said the investigation committee made three key observations and provided recommendations on how to reopen the Kazipara station swiftly.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Managing Director of DMTCL, told media that the report has been submitted to the Road Transport and Highways Division for review.
Zakaria said that although both stations sustained significant damage, metro services can still operate with the stations closed. The investigation team suggested using equipment from the Mirpur-10 station and the training centre in Uttara's Diabari to expedite the reopening of Kazipara station.
"We have documented the damage with photographs and detailed reports," Zakaria said, adding, "We estimate that Kazipara station could reopen by the end of September, though restoring Mirpur-10 station will take time."
Sources from the investigation committee said the control rooms of both Kazipara and Mirpur-10 stations were destroyed, and most of the CCTV cameras at these locations were damaged beyond repair.
