Dhaka: Authorities of the state-run metro rail have decided to extend operational time and increase the frequency of trains from October 19. Time and trips of the Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 (MRT Line-6) have been extended considering passengers’ demand, said Deputy Secretary of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Zahidul Islam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the day’s first train will leave Uttara Uttar station at 6:40 am instead of the present schedule at 7:10 am while the last train will leave at 9:30 pm instead of 9 pm. From the Motijheel side, the first train will leave at 7 am and the last train will leave at 10:10 pm. On Fridays, the metro rail will run from 2:30 pm, half an hour ahead of the present schedule.
From mid-November, a total of 238 trips will be operated every day. The new plan will reduce the interval between arrival and departure. As per the new schedule, trains will be operated in 4, 6, and 8-minute intervals during peak, off-peak, and super off-peak hours.
MRT 6 has 24 sets of trains with six coaches each. Currently, 13 sets of trains are running on the Uttara-Motijheel route. Under the new schedule, 19 sets of trains will run regularly. Currently, an average of 4.5 lakh commuters use metro rail every day, which will be around five lakh after the schedule becomes effective, the official said.