The Dhaka metro rail company plans to operate the mass rapid transit line 06 (MRT-06) from Uttara to Motijheel seven days a week soon with a target to facilitate commuter movement.
Officials said a preparatory meeting was held on Monday to determine the operation of the MRT-06 on Friday, which is observed as weekly holidays at the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
As Friday has so far been preserved for maintenance purposes, according to them, a new roaster of duties and maintenance shifts is needed to run the rail seven days a week.
"Necessary instructions have been given to all sections concerned," said DMTCL managing director MAN Siddique.
He told the FE that the meeting initially agreed to operate the rail after Friday's Juma prayers as passengers would likely be less in the morning.
Mr Siddique, however, said the actual date for operating the MRT-06 on Friday could be declared in a day or two.
Officials said the DMTCL took an initiative to run the train on Friday after receiving a directive from Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, adviser to road transport and bridges ministry.
As the company lacks severe manpower crisis to operate the 20.1-kilometre line efficiently, they say it will create pressure on existing staff. Currently, many MRT-06 officials are carrying additional duties.
However, Mr Siddique said after opening operation on Fridays, they would take preparations to operate the metro rail from early morning until late night as per universal practice.
"After starting the operation on Fridays, we'll work for daylong operations," he said, adding that they would also wait for a trial run on the extended part from Kamalapur to Motijheel.
Work on the Kamalapur-Motijheel part has witnessed good progress.
The DMTCL has been operating the first metro rail in the city's busy north-south corridor from Uttara North to Motijheel partially from 7:00 am to 9:40 pm keeping off on Fridays since January this year.
It launched the service on 30 December 2022 for limited four hours from Uttara to Agargaon, which was gradually extended to Motijheel increasing the operating time to the current state.
The state-owned company is expanding the MRT-06 up to Kamalapur station. Work is likely to be completed next year.
However, about opening the two damaged stations, Mr Siddique said a consulting team started working to find which machines were to be replaced and repaired before ascertaining the date.
smunima@yahoo.com