The construction of Metro Rail, a priority project of the government, is slowing down due to Covid-19 pandemic.

So far 61 officials and workers involved in the project have been infected with the Coronavirus holding back the progress of the mega project, officials said.

In this situation, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), which is implementing the project, made the Corona screening mandatory for each and every official and employee before joining the work.

Besides, initiative has taken to set up two 23-bed field hospitals in fear of further increase in the number of patients.

According to project officials, about 10,000 people have been working in the project before emergence of the pandemic. But after the pandemic spread here, the manpower began to decrease.

Chinese and Thai consultants and contractors are working on the Uttara to Agargaon section of the project, and Japanese are working on Agargaon to Motijheel part. Among them, Chinese and Thai consultants and contractors, and many of their subordinate workers have already been joined the work.

But the Japanese consultants and employees are yet to join hindering the progress of the project.

Moreover, the first Metro Rail train set made at a factory in Japan was supposed to be brought to the country but was not possible as the shipment was halted due to Coronavirus.

"In order to speed up the Metro Rail's construction work, employees and workers of the projects are being sent back to work after undergoing Corona testing," said MNA Siddique, Managing Director (MD) of DMTCL. He said the train set has been kept ready in Japan and it will be brought here after shipment is resumed.

"The construction work of the project was started on a limited scale from the very beginning of the pandemic's spread in Bangladesh keeping health hygiene and physical distancing norms in mind.
Later, the pace of the work continues to increase step by step," he added.

According to Project officials, as of June, the overall progress of the Metro Rail Project is 47.13 per cent. In the first phase, the progress of the Rail's construction work from Uttara to Agargaon part is 74.10 per cent.

The progress of the construction work from Agargaon to Motijheel section of the second phase is 40.95 per cent. The combined progress of electrical and mechanical systems and rolling stock (Railway coaches) and depot equipment procurement work is 31.11 per cent.

Besides, the authorities have made several decisions to carry on the construction of the project during the pandemic.

However, officials said the country's first Metro Rail Project (Mass Rapid Transit-6) may miss its completion deadline in December next year due to delay in construction.

The authorities planned to open the metro rail to the public on December 16, 2021, when the country would celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence.

The government is implementing the 20.10 km long Metro Rail Project at the cost of Tk 22,000 crore with the financial help from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  

The Mass Rapid Transit-6 will connect Uttara with Motijheel. About 60,000 people will be able to travel per hour using the service.