The metro rail has been a boon for the capital, alleviating traffic congestion and becoming a trusted mode of transportation for urban dwellers.
However, recent disruptions have plagued its otherwise smooth operations. Mechanical issues, interference from kites and sky lanterns, power outages, and sudden destruction of passengers' MRT passes have caused inconvenience and uncertainty for thousands of commuters.
Passengers complain that the metro rail suddenly stops operation, causing sufferings to people who use this reliable mode of transportation to save time.
Shamim Ahmed, a Mirpur resident, expressed his exasperation, citing frequent mechanical complications causing delays in his commute to work.
He said he had to use other modes of communication due to mechanical complications on at least seven days in the last six months.
Similarly, Taslima Alam, who works in Kawran Bazar, has been using the metro rail regularly for the last two months.
Lamenting the system's inability to adhere to schedules, she said: “Metro rail is a symbol of our trust. I used to travel by metro because I could reach my destination safely on time. Now that too is not on schedule. Suddenly there is a delay due to mechanical complications. Again, it is suspended due to kites or sky lanterns.''
She claimed that in the last two months, she failed to reach her office on time on three separate occasions.
Chaitanya Chandra Halder recounted multiple instances where delays disrupted his travel plans. He observed that even school candidates were stranded due to train delays.
He told Dhaka Tribune: "On Thursday I was at Mirpur-10 station at 7:40am to go to Motijheel. The train arrived at 8:13. By then, many passengers had gathered on the platform."
Asked if this had happened before, he said: "I have faced such problems three times in the last month. Either there is a complication in the schedule or the vehicle itself gets stuck."
On Saturday, metro rail operations came to a halt for an hour and a half due to door malfunctions, further exacerbating commuter woes.
Complications with MRT passes
Compounding the problem is the complexity surrounding MRT passes. Users have reported difficulties with server downtimes and damaged cards, leading to inconvenience and harassment.
Tanzina Aman Tanjum and Zinnun Nahar highlighted their plight in a Facebook group, pointing to the sudden deterioration of their passes and subsequent server issues.
Tanzina Aman Tanjumwrote: “A fully functional card is suddenly becoming damaged! When you go for a solution, the authorities just send us to other people. Harassment has increased due to the MRT pass! On top of that, when I recharged money on the card, the message I got was that it was damaged.”
Zinnun Nahar wrote: “When I was in Delhi in 2022, I never heard of card damage or server error. Technology is now more advanced than before!”
Some people are saying that as the MRT pass has a magnetic ribbon, it needs to be carefully handled.
What officials are saying
Official responses to these challenges have been elusive. While attempts were made to contact Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) officials, Deputy General Manager Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan redirected inquiries, emphasizing the need to consult project managers.
DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique could not be contacted over the phone despite repeated attempts.
Wishing to remain anonymous, a DMTCL official said: “If there is any fault with the metro rail, the whole system needs to be stopped. Then after identifying and fixing the fault and restarting it, the metro rail can begin to operate. It takes time for the whole system to restart.''
