Physical work of the country's first underground metro rail is expected to begin in March next year, authorities have said.

The authorities, originally, wanted to start the work this month but could not due to the ongoing pandemic situation, they said.

"We have already floated tender for first package meant for developing depot, and the last date for submitting bids is September 8. We hope to start work within six months from the date," said MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), the implementing agency of the project.

He was speaking at a monthly press briefing online.

Once the rail line, formally known as Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 or MRT-1, is completed, it would be able to carry 8 lakh passengers daily. The rail line is expected to be completed in 2026, MAN Siddique said.

Feasibility study and all necessary surveys have been done. Japan has agreed to provide soft loan for the Tk 52,561.43 crore project. Around 72 percent work for drawing detail design was also finished last month, officials said.

The 31.24 km MRT Line-1 will have two parts -- around 19.87km from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur underground lines and around 11.36km elevated lines from Notun Bazar to Purbachal.

It would have 21 stations -- 12 underground and seven elevated.

MAN Siddique further said, "We are hopeful about starting commercial operation of MRT Line 6 (country's first metro rail) by June next year in first phase -- from Uttar to Agargaon."