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Metro rail plans Friday morning operations and capacity expansion by May

Published : Tuesday, 4 February, 2025 at 11:09 PM  Count : 465

The Dhaka metro rail is likely to begin full-day operations on Fridays from May, aligning with its weekday schedule.

Abdur Rouf, the acting managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), made the remark while speaking at a meeting with members of Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) at the Metrorail Depot in Uttara.
He stated that Friday operations had already been extended by 30 minutes, with services now starting at 3:00 pm instead of 3:30 pm. The next step is to introduce morning services on Fridays.  

DMTCL is also working on increasing train frequency by reducing headway, the interval between trains, which currently stands at 8-10 minutes on weekdays and 10-12 minutes on holidays. 
Additionally, the number of coaches per train is set to increase from six to eight to accommodate growing passenger demand. At present, metro rail operates 200 trips per weekday, and the new schedule is expected to further raise this number.  

To test its capacity for handling increased demand, DMTCL introduced six additional trips during the recent Bishwa Ijtema. The success of this trial has encouraged further expansion efforts. However, manpower remains a key challenge, as the metro rail currently employs 1,379 personnel, including 628 outsourced workers. 

To support the upcoming changes, recruitment and training of additional staff are underway, with an estimated 2,400-2,500 employees needed for full-scale operations.  

Currently, the metro rail serves around 350,000 passengers daily, with a target of reaching 550,000. However, this goal may only be achieved after the completion of the Motijheel-Kamalapur extension under MRT Line-6, originally scheduled for December 2025. 

Rouf expressed concerns about meeting this deadline due to financial constraints, particularly the rising dollar exchange rate. Negotiations are ongoing with contractors over cost adjustments for electrical and mechanical works, with an estimated 8-9 months required to complete the project once a final agreement is reached.  

Efforts to generate additional revenue through commercial space rentals at metro stations are also underway. A committee has been formed to oversee the leasing process, and commercial spaces are expected to be rented out soon.  

Regarding the repair of metro stations damaged during the July uprising, Rouf confirmed that temporary fixes were carried out using existing equipment from less-utilized stations at a cost of Tk1.98 crore. Permanent replacements, costing Tk18 crore, are being procured, including a 10% surplus in accessories for future contingencies.  

In terms of financial performance, the metro rail generated approximately Tk244 crore in ticket sales during the 2023-24 fiscal year, in addition to revenue from advertisements and commercial rentals. With the planned expansion of services and facilities, DMTCL aims to further enhance its operational capacity and revenue streams.


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