Bangladesh has partially opened its first urban railway, which has been developed with assistance from Japan.

The Mass Rapid Transit Line six, or MRT Line 6, was inaugurated on Wednesday in an elevated section about 20 kilometers long. The section links the central area of the country's capital, Dhaka, running from north to south.

The Japanese government is extending assistance to the project through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, along with the country's firms.

The agency has extended a government-backed yen loan and technical assistance to the project.

JICA officials said MRT Line 6 introduces automatic ticket gates compatible with IC cards and women-only carriages by utilizing Japanese technologies.

It also said that the entire route is scheduled to open in 2025.

Dhaka is known as one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The new railway is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution, which are deepening with the country's economic development.