Country's first metro rail is expected to be inaugurated in the last week of next month (December), yet on a trial basis as the support services could not be put in place timely, sources said.
Officials said the exact date of inauguration would be finalised upon the appointment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Following the launching of the Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 (MRT 6), they said, the trains will run daily for a very limited period and will continue for a few months before starting its full-fledged operation.
It will first run between first and second stations and add more stations to cover the distance from Uttara to Agargaon gradually.
The project insiders said the manpower required for operating and maintaining the trains and ensuring the overall security of all the stations are not ready yet.
Only the first batch of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) is ready to take over the responsibility from the contractor, they added.
"The MRT police has not also been deployed," said an official, on condition of anonymity.
Earlier on various occasions, the DMTCL announced starting the commercial run of the MRT-6 from Uttara to Agargaon. The Road Transport and Bridges Minister also declared the same and said that the entire corridor will be operated by the end of 2023.
However, DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique told the FE over phone that the MRT-6 will be operated following international practices.
Meanwhile, the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) and DMTCL on Sunday held a meeting at the conference room of the division to start preparation for the MRT-6 inauguration programme.
The meeting discussed possible venues, planning of first day operation, security, etc. as part of the preparation.
Meeting sources said that a decision has been taken to hold a mega event, but all other issues would depend on the PM's schedule. Several possible options were, however, considered.
Sources said the DMTCL informed the meeting that some stations are yet to be completed.
According to the DMTCL website, overall progress of the MRT-6 is 83.68 per cent until October while the progress of the planned inauguration section is 94.57 per cent.
The DMTCL has so far recruited 274 officials of different disciplines and 330 more were under process.
Sources said that over 700 people would be required to operate the first half of the MRT-6 day and night.
smunima@yahoo.com