How to Travel to Dhaka Metro Rail?

Metro rail services are being provided in many countries of the world while the Bangladesh government launched the Dhaka metro rail service in 2022. Dhaka Metro rail is one of the long-cherished public transport in the long-term plan of the government. Following the plan, Dhaka city dwellers are enjoying the much-awaited blessing in the traffic movement, and they have got rid of the rampant traffic jams.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the latest transport on December 28, 2022. It is providing uninterrupted passenger service from Uttara to Motijheel in Dhaka. You can get off and get up from every 16 stations From Uttara north to Motijheel. Currently, the metro rail is operating from 7:1 am to 8:41pm every day. However, the weekend of Metro Rail service is Friday. With the help of a group of skilled workers, some 250,000 passengers are using the metro rail daily on average at the moment.

What do we know about Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL)?

According to The Companies Act 1994, the 100% government-owned Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) was formed on June 03 2013 for the planning, survey, design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or Metro Rail Network as a modern public transport to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment of Dhaka city and adjoining areas.

DMTCL sources said after the prime minister opened the metro rail, some 250,000 passengers are using the metro rail daily on average at the moment. By January of this year, about 20 million people received the metro rail service.  Each train transports nearly 1,650 passengers on average. The government inaugurated the Uttara to Agargaon section of the metro rail on December 28, 2022, while the Agargaon to Motijheel portion was opened on November 4. The pressure of passengers skyrocketed after nighttime services on the Motijheel route began from January 20.

How many stations are for Dhaka Metro rail?

At present, there are 16 metro rail stations on this route. These are:

1. Uttara North Station
2. Uttara Center Station
3. Uttara South Station
4. Pallabi Station
5. Mirpur 11 Station
6. Mirpur 10 Station
7. Kazipara Station
8. Shewrapara Station
9. Agargaon Station
10. Bijoy Sarani Station
11. Farmgate Station
12. Karwan Bazar Station
13. Shahbagh Station
14. Dhaka University Station
15. Bangladesh Secretariat Station
16. Motijheel

How to get to your metro rail station?

The MRT-6 serves residents in Uttara and Mirpur to commute for work to Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel. However, For now, the people, who don’t live near the metro rail station, can use the metro to their advantage as they can figure out the station closest to them and can get there using public transport.

Residents of Gulshan and Banani

Your closest metro station is Mirpur-10 if you want to use the metro rail from both Gulshan and Banani. The Mirpur-10 station has excellent connectivity to the area via buses. Commuters can get buses from Shoinik Club in Banani to go to Mirpur-10, from where anyone can use the metro rail to go further to the destination of Motijheel or Uttara. Residents of Mohakhali can look for the similar option.

Residents of Dhanmondi

Farmgate metro station is closest to the northern part of Dhanmondi, around Dhanmondi 27 and Russell Square while commuters of south Dhanmondi may consider going to the Karwan Bazar or Shahbagh metro station. All of these stations are accessible from Dhanmondi by rickshaw while you can reach the station at Farmgate by using leguna.

For Mohammadpur residents

The metro station in Farmgate is the closest and easiest to access from Asad Avenue and adjacent areas in Mohammadpur. There are lots of buses that travel frequently between the areas. The station at Bijoy Sarani might be the better option for other parts of Mohammadpur. Agargaon station is better for residents of Adabor, Japan Garden City and areas around Ring Road, as public buses to Agargaon are frequent and easily accessible.

Residents of Shyamoli, Kallyanpur, and Gabtoli

The Agargaon station is the best option for residents living in Shyamoli and Kallyanpur, as they will get easy bus connectivity. Commuters from Gabtoli and adjacent areas will have to choose the stations in Mirpur-10.

Residents of Moghbazar, Khilgaon and Rampura

Commuters from these areas will have to Karwan Bazar for the station by using buses. They have no better options without Karwan Bazar stations.

Residents of Baily Road, Shantinagar and Kakrail

Commuters from these areas can use nearby two metro stations –Shahbagh and Bangladesh Secretariat.

Residents of Old Dhaka

The stations at Shahbagh, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel are the best options for the residents of the vast areas collectively known as Old Dhaka. Dhaka University station is nearby from Lalbagh and Bakshibazar while the Bangladesh Secretariat station should be closer to Nazira Bazar, Nawabpur, and areas further south. Motijheel is closest from areas in and around Sayedabad, but both Motijheel and Bangladesh Secretariat are equally accessible from Sadarghat. The station at TSC is the best option for Hazaribag, Azimpur, and other areas south of Dhaka University.

How to buy Metro rail ticket?

You will collect tickets from the ticket counter by maintaining queues. Then, you will be able to enter the first floor of the station after touching the ticket at the entry gate. If you are an elderly, pregnant, or sick person, you will use the lift/elevator. Otherwise, you should use the escalator. If there is no existence of crow, you can also use the lift, but this lift is mainly for people with special needs.

However, you will reach the platform or concourse by using a lift, or escalator, or stairs. Since you will go to Motijheel from Uttara, you will have to go to the left side of the platform. After reaching the platform, you will need to wait for the metro rail. Besides, when you enter the station, you will notice that the time of leaving your train is showing on the big display. There is no reason to hurry. The train will arrive shortly. Then, you can get benches to sit on the platform. If you are sick or with special needs, you can sit on that bench or stand on the platform till the train reaches.

What is the ticketing system?

DMTCL issues two systems of tickets –MRT passes and general tickets–, which can be collected from the counters. The DMTCH has issued the MRT pass for 10 years. For this, people will have to apply for a rapid pass. The minimum fare was fixed at Tk20 while the maximum fare is at Tk100 for travelling from Uttara to Motijheel.

What is the Dhaka metro rail time schedule?

According to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the metro rail will run from 7:10 am to 9:40 pm six days a week as Friday is the weekend.

Only MRT / Rapid Pass holders can travel to the two metro trains leaving Uttara North Metro Rail Station at 7:10 am and 7:20 am while the same passengers will be able to travel Metro trains departing from Motijheel Metrorail Station after 9:00 pm. After 8:50 pm, all ticket sales offices and ticket selling machines at the metro rail stations will be closed. Single Journey Ticket can be purchased from all metro rail stations from 07.15 am to 08.50 pm. Purchase of MRT Pass and MRT/Rapid Pass Top-up can be done at the same time.

Daily Full Timetable Schedule ( Friday will remain closed)

What to do while traveling

• You will have to stand in line even if you have an MRT pass
• We should give scope to others to get off before boarding
• Must keep mind gap between the platform and the metro rail coach
• All will have to stand behind the yellow line on the platform for safety
• We will give priority to people with special needs while using lifts
• Take seats for the elderly and for those with special needs
• You will have to stand on the left side of the escalators
• To choose your destination, you can refer to the metro rail map
• Keep away from the yellow tactile paving as it is built for visually impaired people
• All should maintain cleanliness
• Speak in a low voice and cooperate with security personnel
• All should pay attention to announcements
• The commuters should take notice of the guidance signs and displays inside the train for important travel information

What Not To Do During Travel

• Never smoke on the platform and station premises
• Do not create a crowd while boarding or getting off trains
• Never jump over the entry and exit gates on the second floor of the station
• You should not use mobile phones while boarding and getting off train coaches
• Do not obstruct train doors and keep the mind gap
• Do not thin on the coach door
• We should not occupy multiple seats
• Never cause inconvenience to other passengers
• Never open the cab door of the driver
• Never stand in the place between two coaches
• Refrain from having food or drinking inside the train
• Refrain from attaching posters, banners, and graffiti in the metro rail area
• Do not carry any pets — cat, and dog, etc– on the metro rail.

Special Coach for Women

There are designated coaches for women in the metro rail where women can travel without any hindrance. There is also wheelchair parking in the last compartment for the disabled. Only women will get up in the first compartment. If there is a man with a woman, the man will be sent to the general compartment and the woman will stay in the first compartment. No man will be allowed into the women’s compartment. If a man gets into the women’s compartment, he should be sent to the second compartment with respect. Each compartment is connected to the other compartment.

What is the benefit of metro rail?

As the average speed of cars on Dhaka’s roadways was around 21.2 km/h in 2004 while it was only 6.8 km/h in 2015, the bus ride from Uttara to Motijheel takes longer than 3 to 4 hours. Metro rail is essentially a fast transit system as Motijheel will be reached from Uttara in just 40 minutes by metro train saving time and reducing stress compared to other modes of transportation. Metro Rail systems provide a quick and reliable mode of transportation as well as convenient for commuters.

Metro Rail systems can reduce traffic congestion on the roads by providing a fast and reliable alternative to driving, and it improves air quality and reduces travel time for everyone.

As Metro Rail systems are powered by electricity, it makes an environmentally friendly mode of transportation producing little to no emissions.

Metro Rail systems provide accessibility to a range of people, including those with disabilities, the elderly, women, and those with mobility issues.

Metro Rail systems also help drive economic development by providing access to employment centrse and developing urban revitalisation.

What is the economic benefit of metro rail?

Metro rail authorities said the country’s first metro rail will save around Tk 3,500 crore annually in terms of travel time and vehicle operation costs. The electricity-run trains on the Uttara-Motijheel route will reduce the number of other vehicles significantly, and thus cut 2.02 lakh tonnes of carbon emission annually.

How much did the Metrorail cost in Dhaka?

The metro rail project cost originally was Tk 219,850 million. Although the full project is not yet completed, Tk 114,870 million to Tk 334,720 million later increased the cost. According to Wikipedia, the first route, originally projected to start from Uttara to Sayedabad was eventually extended north to Uttara and truncated south to Motijheel.

What is the income of Dhaka metro rail?

According to DMTCL sources, if the Dhaka metro rail runs at full capacity, a total of 500,000 passengers will travel on it daily, and the monthly income will be from Tk 7.20-7.30 billion.

Finally, the coveted metro rail project is now a reality to facilitate a smooth commuting experience and decrease traffic congestion in Dhaka, and the trains are running from dawn to dusk between Uttara and Motijheel.

The project’s timeline has been extended to 2025 due to the facility’s extension up to Kamalapur, initially, it was slated for completion by 2024. The construction of the Motijheel to Kamalapur section has seen only 26 per cent progress as of January.