Airport-Style Security Coming to Metro Rail Stations: Metal Detectors and Luggage Scanners Planned, Tender Invited

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has taken an initiative to build a modern, airport-style security system at metro rail stations in the capital to strengthen passenger safety. The organisation said the step is being taken to prevent any kind of untoward situation. It marks a major change in the security structure of the capital's busiest public transport system.

DMTCL Director Md Nazrul Islam confirmed the information on Sunday. According to him, under the new system, archway metal detectors will be installed at station entrances to check passengers' bodies, and automatic luggage scanners will be set up to examine bags and belongings carried with them.

To procure the necessary modern security equipment, DMTCL's Store and Procurement Department formally invited a tender through the national e-Government Procurement (e-GP) portal on 19 October. In other words, the plan has now reached the procurement stage.

The authorities hope that once this automatic scanning system is in place, passengers' belongings can be checked very quickly and any metal object carried on the body will be detected instantly. Alongside increasing security monitoring capacity, this will make it easier to prevent possible risks.

However, no specific schedule has yet been finalised on exactly how many machines will be procured in the initial phase or at which stations they will be installed first. It is therefore not yet clear whether the system will start at all stations at once or in phases.

Under the same tender, annual maintenance of the overall electrical system of MRT Line-6, including the Uttara depot, has also been included. It will cover all supervision and servicing of the low-voltage system, diesel generators, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and ventilation system.

Under the tender conditions, interested firms have been asked to collect the necessary documents by the scheduled time on 11 November. This deadline itself indicates that completing procurement and reaching installation will take some more time.

Introducing airport-style checking on public transport will add a new dimension to the experience of Dhaka's passengers. Entry to the metro rail has so far been comparatively quick and easy; once scanners and detectors are installed, a formal layer of security verification will be added to that process.

The confirmation by the organisation's director, the tender invitation of 19 October and the 11 November document-collection deadline — these three facts are for now the confirmed basis of this initiative. Passengers will get a clearer idea once the number of machines and the station-wise schedule are finalised.