Metro Rail
As Agargaon-Motijheel part starts operation, Dhaka Metro Rail crowded with commuters during 48hr blockade
Dhaka Metro Rail compartments were seen packed with commuters this morning (November 05, 2023) as arson violence was reported across the capital amid a road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties across the country.
Commuters in Dhaka were boarding the train in greater numbers to go from one part of the capital to others as Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail opened to public this morning, almost a year after the first part of the MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon) opened.
The opening of the entire route is now set to reduce travel time from one part of the capital to another by more than a third, according to project officials.
On any other Sunday in Dhaka, it would typically take at least an hour and a half on the road to travel from the capital’s Uttara to Farmgate.
Those days seem to be over now.
Read more: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts
Dhaka Metro Rail's Agargaon-Motijheel part to be opened by PM on Nov 4
Dhaka Metro Rail's Agargaon to Motijheel part will be opened to public on November 5, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate it on November 4, metro rail authorities said today (November 01, 2023).
Initially, metro rail on Agargaon-Motijheel section will operate for four hours with three stations: Farmegate, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel. Rest of the stations will be opened in phases, said M.A.N. Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), while talking to reporters today at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban.
Inauguration of Agargaon- Motijheel section of Metro Rail postponed again; next date Nov 4
The prime minister is likely to inaugurate the movement of the train and will travel to Motijheel by metro rail on the inauguration day.
She is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the MRT Northern route too, he said.
Dhaka Metro Rail service to remain shut on Oct 14, 15
Dhaka commuters can travel from Agargaon to Motijheel between 7:30 am and 11:30 am from November 5.
Inauguration of Agargaon- Motijheel section of Metro Rail postponed to Oct 29
Uttara to Motijheel in 38 mins once part of Metro Rail from Agargaon opens on Oct 20
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel part of Dhaka Metro Rail on October 20, 2023, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told UNB.
On that day, the PM will inaugurate the Farmgate, Secretariat and Motijheel stations of metro rail.
There are seven stations on the Agargaon to Motijheel part of Dhaka Metro Rail. These are: Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, TSC, Press Club and Motijheel.
Read: Dhaka Metro Rail a symbol of Japan’s contributions to Bangladesh’s fast development: Nishimura Yasutoshi
Once the Agargaon-Motijheel part of Metro Rail opens, commuters will be able to travel from Uttara to Motijheel in just 38 minutes — a miracle by Dhaka standards.
Initially, five trains will run from Agargaon to Motijheel every 15 minutes and the number of trains will be increased gradually by reducing the time interval, the minister informed.
MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), said that Farmgate, Secretariat and Motijheel stations are being opened on October 20.
All work involving the stations have been completed. Now, work on the passenger walkways at the station is going on and it will be finished by October 15, Siddique hoped.
Read: Metro Rail and Padma Bridge prove AL believes in deeds, not words: Quader
Initially all trains will not go up to Motijheel. Trains will have numbers assigned to them. According to the number, which train will go to Agargaon and which will go to Motijheel, can be identified.
According to the DMTCL MD, a three-step test run is conducted on the line before a train runs commercially. The first step in the trial run is the proficiency test or performance test. The second step will be the 'System Integration Test'. The final stage will be 'trial run' or experimental movement.
Metro rail runs for 12 hours- 8 am to 8 pm- from today
Commuters can use the Dhaka metro rail for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm from Wednesday (May 31, 2023).
Nazmul Ahsan Bhuiya, deputy project director (DPD) of Metro Rail, said from today the metro rail will operate from 8 am to 8 pm on the Uttara-Agargaon route.
As per the new schedule, Dhaka Metro Rail will not operate on Friday instead of Tuesday.
Also read: Case filed against unidentified persons for pelting stones at metro rail
According to the new schedule, Dhaka Metro Rail will leave the station every 10 minutes during the peak hours (from 8 am to 11 am and from 3:01 pm to 6 pm). During off-peak hours (from 11:01 am to 3 pm and from 6:01 pm to 8 pm), the metro rail will leave the station every 15 minutes.
Earlier, the operating hours of Dhaka Metro Rail was 8 am to 2 pm.
On December 28, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first elevated metro rail, setting a milestone in the communication history.
Read more: Dhaka Metro Rail to run from 8am to 8pm from May 31
According to DMTCL, Dhaka Metro Rail operation till Motijheel may start by the end of 2024, and till Kamalapur by 2025. By December 2024, metro rail will start operation from Agargaon to Kamalapur with 24 trains.
Dhaka Metro Rail to operate from 8 am to 2 pm starting today
Starting today (April 05, 2023), commuters can avail the Dhaka Metro Rail service for six hours every day – from 8 am to 2 pm.
Considering the commuters’ demand and aiming to provide more services, the timing has been changed, said MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), in a press conference on March 30.
Earlier, the operating hours of Dhaka Metro Rail was 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Also Read: Metro rail: Shewrapara, Uttara South stations now open to public
All the stations on the Uttara-Agargaon route of Dhaka Metro Rail will be operational this month, Siddique said.
Dhaka Metro Rail will start operating in full swing from July this year and then the train will run non-stop from dawn to midnight, he added.
According to DMTCL, Dhaka Metro Rail operation till Motijheel may start by the end of 2024, and till Kamalapur by 2025. By December 2024, metro rail will start operation from Agargaon to Kamalapur with 24 trains.
Read More: Metro rail: Shewrapara, Uttara South stations now open to public
On December 28, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first elevated metro rail, setting a milestone in the communication history.
Metro Rail’s Mirpur-11, Kazipara stations now open to commuters
Mirpur-11 and Kazipara stations of Dhaka Metro Rail were opened to the public today.
The train can pick up and drop off passengers from the two stations from today, said deputy managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) Nazmul Ahsan Bhuiya.
With this, seven out of nine Metro Rail stations have been opened so far while two stations — Shewrapara and Uttara South — will be opened at the end of this month, he said.
The government started the operation of Metro Rail on December 28 last year on a limited scale, and there was no stoppage between Uttara North and Agargaon stations.
Later, the government opened Metro Rail’s Pallabi, Uttara Centre and Mirpur-10 stations on January 25, February 18 and March 1, respectively.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to run Metro Rail every day from early morning to midnight from July this year.
Also read: Metro rail services to be opened in December,2022: Quader
MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), disclosed the information on February 10.
Currently, the trains are operating from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
According to the DMTCL, the train operation till Motijheel may start by the end of 2024, and till Kamalapur by 2025.
Commuters can now use Mirpur-10 Metro Rail station
Commuters can now take the Metro Rail using Mirpur-10 station, as the government opened it for public this morning (March 01, 2023), nearly two months after the inauguration of the country’s much-awaited metro rail.
According to the Metro Rail authority, the train can pick up and drop off passengers at Mirpur-10 station from today.
With this, five out of nine Metro Rail stations have been opened, so far.
Also Read: Metro Rail: Uttara Centre station to open on February 18, Mirpur-10 station on March 1
The government started the operation of Metro Rail service on December 28 last year on a limited scale, and there was no stoppage between Uttara North and Agargaon stations.
On December 29, the government made the metro rail open to the public.
Later, the government opened Metro Rail’s Pallabi and Uttara Centre stations on January 25 and February 18, respectively.
Four other stations -- Uttara South, Mirpur-11, Kazipara and Shewrapara -- will be opened to the public in phases.
Read More: Dhaka Metro Rail Uttara to Agargaon Route: A Detail Overview
Feasibility study on Chattorgram metro rail begins
The feasibility study on Chattogram metro rail began on Tuesday.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader joined the inauguration programme of the feasibility study virtually.
Addressing the event, Quader said,“Today is a historic day for Chattogram as we have started the feasibility study of the metro rail.”
Read more: KOICA to render pre-survey on introducing metro rail in Chattogram
The study will be conducted at an estimated cost of TK 70 crore.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) will provide TK 50 crore, while the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges will provide the rest.
The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by March 2025.
Read more: Govt to start feasibility study on Metrorail in Chattogram: Quader
Tasks of the feasibility study include an integrated plan on transport in the city, reviewing and updating theongoing and completed projects, conducting transport survey, assessment and evaluation of future traffic demand, economic evaluation of projects, pre-feasibility study of Mass Rapid Transit Network Proposal, planning public transport system, traffic safety, etc.
Radwan Mujib takes a ride on Metro Rail, lauds it’s ‘healthy gender balance’
Radwan Mujib Siddiq, grandson of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and trustee of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), today posted photos of him taking the Dhaka Metro Rail on his verified Facebook profile.
“Dhaka Metro did not disappoint! Good signage, comfortable carriages, spacious platforms, unique views of the city and a healthy gender balance.” — Radwan Mujib wrote in the post along with some photos of him at the metro rail station, on board the train, view of Dhaka from the train, and people traveling with him.
Read more: Metro Rail’s Pallabi Station opens to commuters today
A London School of Economics graduate in political science, he completed his post-graduation in comparative politics. He currently edits the country's first policy-based magazine WhiteBoard.
Radwan Mujib’s work mainly revolves around empowering youths in Bangladesh.
Commonly known as a 'mentor' among youths, he advocates for youth engagement in every sector, urging everyone to entrust youths with more leadership roles.
He is acclaimed for reviving the youth's interest in history through a spectrum of creative initiatives including Joy Bangla Youth Award (named after the historic wartime slogan “Joy Bangla”), Joy Bangla concert, “Hasina: A Daughter's Tale”, and Mujib Graphic Novel.
Read more: Metro rail operates upon electrical & mechanical system installed by L&T
The country’s commuting system entered a new era on December 28 last year when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first ever metro rail service in Dhaka.
Construction work of underground metro rail to be inaugurated Thursday
The construction work of underground metro rail will be inaugurated on February 2, said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) authorities on Tuesday.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the underground metro rail around 11 am at Purbachal New town area, said MAN Siddique, Managing Director of DMTCL.
Read more: Dhaka underground metro rail: Inauguration of construction work on February 2
A public meeting will be held at Rajuk Commercial Plot near Rupganj Jamta High School on the occasion, said DMTCL MD.
A depot will be built on 88.71 acres of land in Pitalganj involving Tk 607.65 crore, though which the construction work of the underground metro rail will start, said Siddique.
All metro trains of Airport route and Purbachal route will get the opportunity of using the depot, he said.
Read More: Dhaka Metro Rail Uttara to Agargaon Route: A Detail Overview