Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina became first passenger to book ticket and board the train, after the opening ceremony where she applauded the metro rail as another feather in nation's crown on its development journey.
Both the premier, officials concerned and Japanese builders termed it a dream come true while the metro train whistle-started from Uttara North Station for Agargaon with the Prime Minister and her 200 entourage members. The inauguration ushered in a new era in the country's transportation system, enabling faster and modern ridership.
Hereafter, the country's first metro rail titled Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 (MRT 6) will start operation partially today (Thursday) with 10-minute interval to and from the 11.73km track from 8 am to 12 noon every day.
As its launch took place after the opening of another mega communications infrastructure, the Padma Bridge, the Prime Minister also said the MRT set another milestone in the country's communications sector.
"The MRT itself sets four milestones technologically: it introduces electric train, faster train, 100-kilometer-per-hour speed in journey," she told her audience at the citizen gathering near Uttara North Station after unveiling the inaugural plaque.
More than 3,000 invited guests attended the ceremony while hundreds of leaders and activists of the ruling party Awami League joined chanting almost nonstop slogans in favour of the government and the Prime Minister for the success in introducing the first metro rail.
Among the guests were ministers of foreign affairs, liberation war, information, land, LGRD, ICT, and rail, chief whip, deputy speaker, speaker, Salman F Rahman. Actors and actresses were also on the invitee lists.
The Prime Minister's sister, Sheikh Rehana, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on road transport and bridges ministry Rawshan Ara Mannan, local MP Mohammad Habib Hasan, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique, MRT Line-6 Project Director Aftab Uddin Talukder, new Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori and JICA Chief Representative in Bangladesh Ichiguchi Tomohide were on the stage.
The Prime Minister, RTB Minister as well as the Japanese Ambassador and the JICA chief recalled the sacrifice of the Japanese consultants who lost their lives in the Holey Artisan attack in July 2016.
The Prime Minister announced naming some MRT stations by the Japanese consultants in memory of their sacrifice and said memorial plaque had already been built at Uttara North Station with the names of all.
The PM also recalled the contribution of Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was also killed, as he played a significant role in reviving the MRT works that came to a halt after the Holey Artisan attack.
During her ride, the PM moved around various coaches and talked with the guests accompanied her on this memorable moment.
The Japanese Ambassador, who took the charge of Embassy only two days before, reiterated his government's commitment to taking Bangladesh onto a new height through cooperating in building various infrastructures, including metro rail, and said he will work for this during his tenure.
He expressed his belief that MRT will bring behavioural change in commuters as well as face of the capital, Dhaka.
As the MRT 6 will start operation from Thursday, officials said ticket counters including the vending machines will open at 8 am for commuters who will either buy MRT Pass paying Minimum Tk 200 or buy ticket for single ride from machine to ride two stations at Tk 60.
However, they said Dhaka Mass Transit Company ltd (DMTCL) has decided not to allow any media during the operation time for tackling the crowd it expects on the first day.
But sources said due to not having enough preparation to tackle the crowd expected on the first few days, the DMTCL took the decision on media restriction.
The DMTCL plans to enter 200 passengers before a train arrived in the station but did not clear how the ticket sales and crowd will be managed.
Commuters are found enthusiastic to ride the MRT on the first day but many will watch the situation to avoid the expected crowd. However, they are excited as the Uttara-to-Agargaon ride is going to take 10 minutes in the MRT commuting against at least 90 to 120 minutes in congestion situation and 25 to 30 minutes in free road.
A fleet of BRTC state buses will provide shuttle service from the two ends to carry the metro-rail passengers to designated destinations.
smunima@yahoo.com