The metro rail system features four automatic ticket vending machines at each station, allowing passengers to purchase single journey tickets independently by inserting money into them. However, since its launch, there have been persistent complaints about these machines.
It is a common occurrence for one of the machines at various stations to be out of order at any given time.
Afrin Akhter, a commuter at the Secretariat station, expressed frustration over the malfunctioning machine.
She said: "I've noticed the adjacent machine has been out of order for quite some time now. It seems nobody is attending to its repair. If it were operational, I would have already purchased my ticket. With the evening rush causing congestion downstairs, I am now contemplating taking the metro rail. Standing for an extended period has left my feet sore."
Meanwhile, Musa Ibrahim, another passenger at Mirpur-11 station, said this problem is noticed almost at all the stations. “Everyone has accepted it now. They don't even call anyone.”
In response, Md Abdur Rauf, company secretary (joint secretary) of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, acknowledged the issues with the machines.
He said the machine is not completely broken; rather, there are some issues with its use by commuters.
Abdur Rauf said: “Passengers often enter multiple wrong commands. It takes a lot of time to enter the money into the machine. Moreover, the machine frequently halts automatically due to the repeated insertion of old notes.”
He also attributed the disruptions to factors such as the depletion of ticket stock.
“Many times, the stock of 500 tickets inside the machine runs out. In such instances, a new card tray must be replaced to replenish the supply,” he explained.
He also said that there are some technical issues that need to be addressed through the software.
Rauf assured that efforts were underway to address these concerns, expressing optimism that a resolution would be implemented soon.
Metro rail services started on December 29, 2022, initially operating between Agargaon and Uttara North stations.
On the very first day, two ticket machines at Agargaon and Uttara North stations experienced issues, with the authorities attributing their malfunction to the overwhelming rush of eager passengers.
They said the problem was caused by passengers struggling to adapt to the new technology.
Since January 20, metro rail operations have extended into the night, spanning from Uttara to Motijheel, leading to a significant increase in passenger numbers.
