Starting this Sunday, the journey between Uttara and the city's central business hub Motijheel will be smoother with the metro rail, completing the commute in just 31 minutes.
The daily commute covering a distance of 20.1km currently takes an average travel time of 105 minutes through other transportation subject to traffic conditions and often exceeds two hours
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel section of MRT-6 on November 4. Metro rail operations will be temporarily halted on that day to facilitate the inauguration programme, and the entire section will be operational from the following day.
Currently, commuters can travel on the metro rail service from Uttara to Agargaon via MRT-6, taking 17 minutes, including stoppage time at nine stations. The newly constructed Agargaon-Uttara section will enhance the overall commuting experience.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that from November 5 metro rail services between Agargaon and Motijheel will run for four hours from 7:30am to 11:30am, while the Uttara-Agargaon service will run from 7:30am to 8:30pm.
“Initially, on the Agargaon-Motijheel section metro rail will run in every ten minutes and stop at three stations — Farmgate, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel.”
“The Dhaka University station will be operational by the end of November, while the remaining stations — Bijoy Sarani, Kawran Bazar, Shahbag will be opened within three months,” he added.
Upon the full opening of all stations along the route, the journey from Uttara to Motijheel is anticipated to be completed in just 38 minutes. The DMTCL envisions serving up to five lakh people per day.
Regarding the inauguration programme, MAN Siddique said that the prime minister will inaugurate the service at Agargaon station on November 4. Subsequently, she will board on metro rail to Motijheel to join a ceremonial event hosted at the concourse level of the station.
The premier will also inaugurate the construction works of the MRT Line-5 (Northern route) and unveil the inaugural plaque of the MRT line-6 from Motijheel station. She will deliver speech at a civil society gathering at the event.
