MRT-6 operation on Uttara-Motijheel stretch begins Saturday

Motijheel office-goers are going to enjoy 30 minutes' ride to reach their respective workplaces from Sunday as the metro-rail company will start operating MRT-6 from Uttara North to Motijheel at 7:30 am after inaugurating second phase of the mass-transit line.
Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) will run entire 20.1 kilometre MRT 6 from Uttara North to Motijheel for four hours beginning half an hour earlier from the present time to facilitate the commuters of total 12 stations.
"Trains will now operate from 7:30 am to 11:30 am from Uttara North to Motijheel with stoppage at Farmgate, Secretariat and Motijheel along with the nine stations currently functioning between Uttara North and Agargaon," MAN Siddique, managing director of DMTCL, told the journalists while briefing them about the inauguration of the second phase of the mass transit line at his office on Wednesday.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will flag off an empty train to inaugurate the MRT 6 from Agargaon to Motijheel at 2:30 pm on Saturday and ride the second train to go to Motijheel station.
An inaugural function will be held at Motijheel station with a limited number of guests after the Prime Minister inaugurates physical work of the MRT 5 North, the MD added.
Siddique, a retired secretary, said after closure of the service from Agargaon to Motijheel at 11:30 am, train operation on rest Agargaon-Uttara North stretch will continue as normal till 8:30 pm with 10 minutes' interval.
On the occasion of the inauguration, operation of the entire MRT- 6 will remain suspended, he cleared.
Replying to various questions, the MD said trains will start from both sides -Motijheel and Uttara North- at 7:30 am with 10 minutes' interval which will enable commuters to reach the end stations in 31 minutes.
The time to travel from Agargaon to Mitijheel is 14 minutes with stoppage at Farmgate and Secretariat.
He assured that time of the second phase will be adjusted with the first phase opening up of four stations gradually in next three months.
The next station to be opened in the current month is Dhaka University as its 99 per cent work has been completed.
Travel time of commuters to both side ends will be 38 minutes with the current 10 minutes' interval and stoppages in all 16 stations.
The DMTCL MD, however, said time gap at various stages like train door opening and closure has gradually been adjusted observing familiarity of the commuters with the new kind of high tech transport mode.
Regarding the fares, the MD said it remains same as before with Tk100 end-to-end stations and minimum Tk20.
Since launching of the operation of first 11.7 km line of MRT 6 on December 29, the number of riders has gradually increased reaching 90,000 a day, the MD said.
He also said use of both MRT pass and rapid pass has also been increased which is to get a hike significantly after opening of the entire MRT operation.
He, however, said the latest smart phone users will soon be able to avail QR and NFC apps for metro rail ride.
Regarding security and safety, the MD said MRT police have already been fully deployed in three stations and in other stations partially.

smunima@yahoo.com