On the first day of the commercial run of metro rail’s Motijheel-Uttara route, the ticket counters at Motijheel station were bustling with passengers expressing their contentment with both the fare and the quality of service provided by the trains.
The inauguration of the new route has finally realized the dream of a faster commute for Dhaka residents, as travel time was cut down to thirty minutes which typically spans an hour or more.
Ignoring BNP's 48-hour blockade, passengers began arriving at Motijheel station as early as 6am on Sunday to experience swift and efficient transport, said Ansar member Hasanur Rahman, responsible for station security. The station gates opened at 7am for 15 minutes.
The inaugural train for Uttara departed at 7:30am on the Sunday, ferrying mostly office-bound people and students towards their destination.
As per station sources, a train departs every 10 minutes. The uninterrupted service from Motijheel to Uttara will run until 11am, without any interruption. However, once the full service starts, trains will operate every 8 minutes.
Envisioned to ease travel between Uttara and Motijheel, spanning 20 kilometers, the elevated line promises a commute time of just 30 minutes, sparing commuters the hassles of the capital's notorious traffic congestions.
Fare regulations stipulate a minimum charge of Tk20 per kilometer on the Metro Rail, resulting in a Tk100 fare for the trip from Uttara to Motijheel Station.
Commuters excited
Observing the scene upon passengers' arrival at the stations, there was a palpable sense of enthusiasm as they boarded the trains. Covering the 20km distance from Uttara to Motijheel in just 30 minutes, passengers expressed their delight at the efficiency.
Among the passengers were office-goers, students heading to school or college, and some experiencing the metro rail for the first time. Throughout the day, the ticket counters and vending machines witnessed increasing queues as more passengers sought to purchase tickets.
Labiba, a ninth-grade student from Wills Little Flower School and College, accompanied by her younger brother and father, eagerly shared her excitement: "I had only seen the Metro from a distance until now, and I wanted to ride it. Therefore, today I am experiencing riding the Metro Train with my father."
Another first-time rider, Fauzia, a sixth-grade student at Holycross School, expressed her joy: "I used to wait for the bus for hours to get to school, but now I no longer have to do that. I am thrilled to be traveling more conveniently today. I have come a bit earlier with my father to catch the train today."
Another passenger Fatema Jahan said: "We reached Motijheel in just 12 minutes without any kind of transportation hassle from Shewrapara. The metro rail is a fantastic service for those of us who used to wait for hours for commute. The fares are in order, but we hope that the service will not face the same issues as the trains at Kamalapur station."
A place to visit
Moreover, Mamun Molla brought students from Arambagh Madrasa to visit the metro rail station in Motijheel and shared his excitement: "We are bringing students to the Metro Station because it is close to the madrasa. I am also witnessing this. It is very exciting, and I am very grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking such a beautiful initiative."
Additionally, another passenger Faruk Chowdhury praised the system, saying: "The metro rail is a blessing for people like us who work for a living in this city. Today I have come by bus, but from tomorrow onwards, I will go to work by metro rail."
As of now, the metro rail makes stops at three stations in the stretch between Motijheel and Agargaon, namely Farmgate, Secretariat, and Motijheel.
Plans within the next three months involve gradually opening stations such as Bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, and Dhaka University's TSC. The TSC station is expected to be operational first, followed by the opening of the Karwan Bazar station.
In the section from Uttara to Agargaon, passengers are currently utilizing all nine stations. The train stops at each station for a minimum of 40-45 seconds and a maximum of 1 minute, ensuring efficient travel.
The overall route encompasses 16 stations from Uttara to Motijheel. Construction work is progressing to extend the Metro Rail from Motijheel to Kamalapur, including the addition of another station, with an expected launch in 2025.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the second phase of the Metro Rail, extending from Agargaon to Motijheel, on Saturday. The Metro Rail project is structured into three phases, with the completion of the first phase covering the stretch from Uttara to Agargaon. The second phase, now operational, spans from Agargaon to Motijheel.
Presently, construction is ongoing for the third phase, extending from Motijheel to Kamalapur. The infrastructure development in this section has reached 17.30% completion, with an estimated completion date by June 2025.
