The authorities have stepped away from their decision of opening part of the metro rail to the public by this year due to technical complications. The entire project will be opened on Dec 16, 2021.

“The metro rail will be opened to the public on Dec 16, 2021 on the occasion of 50 years of Independence,” Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Company Ltd Managing Director MA Siddiq said during a program on Wednesday (May 29).

Meanwhile, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader who was also present at the program said, "People will be able to move easily after the construction of ongoing megaprojects is complete."

He added that the government plans to build a strong metro rail network in Dhaka, by 2030, after completing the construction of six metro rail routes.

Siddiq said that construction work for the MRT line-6 which encompasses a 20.1 kilometre route and 16 stations between Uttara sector-3 and Motijheel was underway.

He added that 24.69 percent work of the MRT line-6 was complete and 40.58 percent of work was complete in the Uttara-Agargaon route.

The first set of metro trains is expected to reach Bangladesh by Jun 15 of 2020.

The estimated cost of the metro rail project is Tk53,000 crore and once it’s complete it will be the most time-efficient, reliable, safe, comfortable and environment-friendly solution for commuting. It is expected to transform Dhaka into a more active, commute-friendly, and sustainable city.

According to project officials around 60,000 passengers will be able to move, per hour, using the metro rail. In 2021, an estimated 500,000 people will commute by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 every day.