Dhaka's Metro rail has started its seven-day-a-week service, with launching its first Friday operation yesterday (Friday), almost two years after its journey started.
On the very first Friday, most of the trains were seen packed with commuters who expressed their satisfaction over the new schedule as it would help further ease their woes while commuting in a highly congested city.
Also, Kazipara station of the mass transit service resumed operations after almost two months as vandalism occurred there during the student-led quota reform movement that toppled the government.
The elevated train service will start operations at 3.30pm from Uttara and at 3.50 pm from Motijheel on Fridays with 12 minutes headways whereas its regular operations will begin at 7.30 am with eight minutes headway during peak hours, according to the schedule circulated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
As per the schedule, the last train from Uttara will leave at 9.00pm and from Motijheel at 9.40 pm.
During a ride and visit to several stations, the FE correspondent found a significant crowd, close to the usual crowd on working days, thanks to Dhaka people's propensity to gather at entertainment spots or hangout with family and friends.
A long queue was also seen for collecting single journey tickets at stations' concourse halls.
"We are going to Uttara Diabari to enjoy the beauty of catkin blooming there," said a private service holder Asifur Rahman Khan residing in Panthapath area.
Welcoming the decision to run metro trains on Friday, he said it has further facilitated his transport necessities.
Usually, he spends Fridays with family by going to recreation spots or meeting relatives, but sometimes he has to cancel such plans considering traffic congestion.
"Now it will be very convenient to move to and from the destinations across metro routes," said Mr Khan, adding that when metro trains remain operational, traffic in neighbouring areas also ease.
A visit to the Kazipara station revealed that the station was fully functional, also increased number of passengers were getting on and off the trains.
A resident of the area, Syed Badruddoza, said the Friday has been special for him as two major developments marked the day.
"Until Mirpur-10 station comes back to operations, this station will help many commuters," he said.
One station manager on condition of anonymity said the number of passengers using the service on first Friday was above their level of expectation.
"The more people use the service, the sooner the DMTCL will become profitable," he said.
Managing Director of DMTCL Mohammad Abdur Rouf told the newsmen that this Friday has been a historic day for the metro rail service.
Regarding the feasibility of Friday service, he said: "We have just started today. Let's gather some data, how is the impact on Friday? How are passengers travelling?"
"Our ultimate target is to run metro rail every three and a half minutes. We are moving towards that goal, to make metro rail commercially viable," he added.
Regarding the resumption of Mirpur-10 station, he said that efforts are being made to launch the station quickly.
Besides, work is going on to determine the extent of damage of that station. It may take another seven or eight days, he added.
saif.febd@gmail.com