Full-fledged MRT-6 operation to take 7 more months

The Dhaka Metro Rail company is likely to take seven months more time to start full-fledged dawn-midnight operation of the partially-opened metro rail by opening all 16 stations in the city's first Uttara-Motijheel corridor.
Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique hinted this on Thursday while announcing opening of two more metro rail stations- Dhaka University and Bijoy Sarani- in the Agargaon- Motijheel section on December 13.
In a press conference at DMTCL conference room, the MD said the rest two stations- at Kawran Bazar and Shahbag- are likely to be opened in January, 2024 with the current operation time from 7:10 am to 12:00 noon.
The DMTCL launched the commercial operation of entire 20.1 kilometre corridor of Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 (MRT 6) on November 4 dividing the time of running trains into two parts.
The MRT 6 from Uttara to Agargaon which was launched on December 29 last remains open for commuters from 7:10 am to 8:30 pm.
All nine stations in this part of MRT were opened phase by phase extending time of operation from four hours from the day of inauguration to 12 hours till 8:30pm.
However, timing of another part of MRT-6 from Agargaon to Motijheel has been fixed from 7:10 am to 12 noon resulting in half heartened service to the commuters from Uttara to Motijheel.
Only three stations in this part were opened at that time.
The MD said the DMTCL staff members are working round the clock as part of preparation to open the rest stations.
Siddique who took the charge of MD day after retirement from secretary post, however, said they need three months more time after opening of all stations to synchronise the two time tables of operation into one.
"When the time of the two parts of MRT will be same, then another three months might be taken to go for full-fledged operation which is because of readying new software for the operation," he told the journalists.

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