DHAKA: The parliament on Monday passed the Metro Rail Act, 2015 with the view to easing traffic congestion and providing fast and improved public transport service in the city.

The JS with Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah in the chair, passed the bill by a voice vote after the Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader placed the bill.

The minister told House that that the government has taken an initiative to ease traffic jam in city and to improve the commuting system.

He further said under the act, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 route will be constructed from Uttara to Bangladesh Bank via Pallabi, Farmgate and Shahbagh. The route will cover 16 stations.

Minister also said MRT lines 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 would be constructed gradually to connect the whole city and its adjacent districts.

Quader said the first tender for the construction of the 20km metro rail would be invited on January 31 and two more tenders in February and five others in 2015.  

He said the construction works of the project would start in January of 2016 and will be completed by 2019.

Japan has approved $2.1 billion loan for the $2.7 billion project. 

The trains will operate every three minutes and carry 60,000 passengers in every hour.

On November 10 of 2014, the Cabinet approved the draft of the Metro Rail Act.

BDST: 2200 HRS, JAN 26, 2015