The commercial journey from the capital’s Uttara to Motijheel has finally started after the metro rail which has been running from Diabari to Agargaon in Uttara for almost a year.
On Sunday, passengers were taken to Motijheel station. The excitement of the city dwellers was palpable for the ease and speed of this modern transport journey. Apart from office, university, school going commuters, many more ride the metro to experience the joyous travel experience of the complete route of the metro rail.
Traffic congestion in the capital city of Dhaka takes hours to cover even a short distance due to the severity of the traffic jam. Passengers riding the metro on the first day, explained the experience of being able to cover the long 20 km distance in a little more than half an hour in that city as a dream.
Many were seen taking selfies to frame the experience. Anwar Hossain is one of them. He was happy and excited to come to Motijheel from Kazipara station by metro due to his job.
He told Bangladesh Pratidin, I never thought that I will come to Motijheel in such a short time. This metro rail journey is really like a dream in this traffic jam city. My office is in Motijheel. Earlier, I did not get this facility due to limited metro rail movement from Uttara to Agargaon. The agony of sitting in annoying traffic for hours before coming to office is over.
Shikder Rabbi came to Motijheel from Agargaon. He said, “I have come to Motijheel for a job. The buses are also not running properly in the blockade. Those that are running are crowded with people. Moreover, it is risky to travel by public transport during the blockade. Having thought about everything, I boarded the metro rail. Moved smoothly without any hassles.”
The movement of metro rail from Agargaon to Motijheel was from 7:30 am to 11:30 am as per the pre-scheduled schedule. During these four hours, passengers were able to get on and off at Motijheel, Secretariat and Farmgate stations. However, the metro service from Uttara Uttar station to Agargaon station was as before till 8:30 pm.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) said that within the next three months, the running time of the metro will be equalized by increasing the time gradually. Vijay Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh and Dhaka University stations will be opened.
As such, the city dwellers will get the full benefit of the metro rail from the beginning of March next year.
Apart from this, the government has set a target of commissioning the Motijheel to Kamalapur section by June 2025. When the work of this section is completed, passengers coming and going to Kamalapur railway station will also get the facility of metro rail. It will be possible to transport 60 thousand passengers every hour on this entire route of 21.26 km.
The metro rail fare from Uttara North to Motijheel is Tk 100. However, DMTCL, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the metro rail, will take 10 percent discount if the fare is paid by smart card. In other words, passengers have to pay Tk 5 for every kilometer on metro rail. The minimum fare per passenger is Tk 20.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 6 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
