Dhaka is preparing for a significant expansion of its metro rail services as 10 additional trains will be introduced from October 5, 2025, alongside an extension of operating hours in both the morning and night.
Officials hope the new schedule will not only ease the overwhelming passenger demand but also maximize the system's full potential.
At present, the metro operates with trains running at six-minute intervals during peak hours. Under the revised schedule, that gap will be reduced to just 4 minutes and 15 seconds, bringing the metro rail closer to international standards of frequency. Trial runs will begin this Friday, with the new timetable formally coming into effect two weeks later. Notably, even during the trial phase, the extended services will carry passengers, ensuring that no train runs empty.
The metro system is managed by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL). According to company sources, the adjustment marks a crucial step in moving toward the full utilization of the metro's infrastructure. Currently, an average of 420,000 passengers travel daily on the metro. On August 6, 2025, ridership hit a record high of 456,746 passengers. Officials believe that once the new schedule is introduced, daily ridership will exceed 500,000, a figure originally projected in the project's design.
When fully operational, the Uttara-Motijheel line was expected to serve 500,000 passengers daily, with numbers climbing to 677,000 after the Kamalapur extension is completed.
Details of the New Timetable, From Uttara: the first train will leave at 6:40 am (earlier than the current 7:10 am), and the last train at 9:30 pm (instead of 9:00 pm). From Motijheel: the first train will depart at 7:00 am (earlier than 7:30 am), and the last train at 10:10 pm (instead of 9:40 pm). On Fridays, trains will begin at 2:30 pm instead of 3:00 pm, and night operations will be extended by 30 minutes.
