Metro service timings to be extended

Passenger traffic on the Dhaka Metro Rail is increasing daily. On average, 3.5 to 4 lakh people use the transport system, with even more during peak hours.
Under the new plan, the metro will operate beyond 10 pm to cater to the growing demand. The service will also start earlier in the morning; that is, both the starting and ending times will be extended by half an hour.
However, since increasing the number of train carriages is not feasible at present, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has decided to increase the number of trips as an alternative.
The Uttara-Motijheel route, which has been operational for nearly two and a half years, currently has around 200 trips per day. Ten more trips will be added to meet passenger demand. It is estimated that this will enable the transport of an additional 23,000 passengers daily.
While the initial plan was for 8-car trains, they currently operate with 6 cars. Project officials say that increasing the number of carriages is not possible at present due to the lack of platform screen doors (PSDs), the need for additional funding, and uncertainty about the power supply capacity.
According to the initial plan, train operations could start at 6:30 am instead of the current 7:10 am. The evening service will also be extended. Currently, the last train leaves Uttara at 9 pm and Motijheel at 9:40 pm; according to the new schedule, it will operate after 10 pm.
Also, the metro currently operates from 3 pm on Fridays. According to the new schedule, it will start at 2:30 pm on Fridays. The evening service will also be extended by half an hour.
According to the new schedule, the minimum interval between trains during peak hours will be 4 minutes 15 seconds. During other times, when the interval was 8 or 10 minutes, it will be reduced to two minutes.
Transport experts say that simply increasing the number of trips will increase costs. Electricity consumption will also increase significantly. Therefore, increasing the number of carriages is essential in the long run to reduce passenger inconvenience.
DMTCL has said that the matter is still under review. The additional 10 trips on MRT Line-6 ​​will be launched as soon as everything is finalized. It is worth noting that Bangladesh’s first metro rail service was launched on December 28, 2022. Initially, the metro operated only between Uttara and Agargaon. The number of stations gradually increased. By the end of 2023, passengers could board and alight at all stations up to Motijheel. Currently, work is underway to extend the metro line to Kamalapur.