Dhaka Metro Rail service has been extended by an hour in the lead-up to Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival for Muslims, to facilitate travel centering the celebration and Eid shopping.
The new schedule, effective from today (Wednesday), will see the last train depart from Uttara North Station at 9:00 pm and Motijheel Station at 9:40 pm.
Previously, the last trains departed at 8:00 pm and 8:40 pm, respectively. This extension aims to facilitate travel associated with Eid celebrations and shopping activities.
Metro rail service will not operate on Eid day, according to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique, who spoke at a press conference at the DMTCL office on Tuesday.
Mr Siddique said extending train operations until midnight is not currently feasible, as data analysis is needed before such a decision can be made. "We can't say right now when further time extension might be possible," he said in response to a question.
The current train schedule has a capacity gap of 200,000 passengers. Extending service hours, he argued, would cause financial losses to the company.
The MD said trains will now run from 7:10 am to 9:00 pm from Uttara to Motijheel, and until 9:40 pm in the Motijheel to Uttara North direction. This extension will increase the number of train services to 194, with an expected passenger capacity of 447,452.
However, Mr Siddique noted that MRT Line-6 currently averages 300,000 passengers, calling attention to reducing the headway (time between trains) rather than extending operating hours.
"We feel more about focusing on reducing headway times than extending service until midnight," he commented.
According to the new schedule, the last train departing Motijheel will leave at approximately 9:40 pm, instead of the current 8:40 pm, and will reach Uttara North at 10:14 pm, making all scheduled stops.
The last train from Uttara North will depart for Motijheel at 9:00 pm.
Only passengers with a valid Mass Rapid Pass (MRT) with sufficient balance can board these later trains. Ticket counters and single-entry ticket machines at all stations will cease operation at 8:50 pm, while ticket counters will open at 7:15 am.
According to the revised schedule, from Uttara North to Motijheel, trains will run every 10 minutes from 7:10 am to 7:30 am and 8:00 pm onwards
Trains will operate every eight minutes from 7:31 am to 11:36 am and 2:01 pm to 8:00 pm. Off-peak hours, 11:37 am to 2:00 pm, will see trains running every 12 minutes.
Regarding Iftar (the breaking of fast during Ramadan), Siddique said passengers will be allowed to bring unopened 250ml water bottles before and after Iftar.
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