Metro rail begins trial runs to boost capacity amid surging demand

Dhaka metro rail authority has launched trial runs on the Uttara-Motijheel corridor in a bid to add more trains and ease mounting passenger pressure, as daily ridership now nears its projected peak.

Officials said the company conducted the first trial between 7 am and 12 noon on Friday last, during the off-hours of regular operations on Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 (MRT 6).

The trials are expected to continue over the next three to four Fridays to determine the final schedule and number of additional trains.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) had earlier decided to reduce the current headway from 6.0 minutes to 4.15 minutes and extend operating hours both in the morning and evening, across all seven days of the week.

Since MRT 6 began partial operations in late December 2022, the line has faced persistent passenger congestion. Daily ridership has already approached the maximum levels projected during its initial planning.

Official data show that the metro rail carries an average of 420,000 passengers a day, with peak figures exceeding 455,000.

DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed told The Financial Express that the company aims to increase passenger capacity by 8.0-9.0 per cent by adding 16 to 17 more train trips. Currently, 236 trips are operated daily on the line.

He declined to give a specific date for the new schedule but confirmed that following the ongoing trials over the next three to four Fridays, a final decision would be taken by the end of October.

Officials said the trials involve testing technical systems and station integration. Once the headway and operating hours are adjusted, waiting times are expected to fall. At present, trains run between 7:10 am and 9:40 pm, with 6.0-minute intervals during peak hours and 8.0-10 minutes during off-peak hours.

The state-owned company was unable to operate MRT 6 at full capacity from the outset, as the service was inaugurated without sufficient manpower and technical support in place.

smunima@yahoo.com