Dhaka Metro Extends Service Hours, Adds 10 New Train Trips

Dhaka Metro Rail is set to expand operations, adding 10 new train trips daily and extending service hours beyond 10 PM to accommodate the city’s rising passenger demand. Morning operations will also start earlier, with both opening and closing times extended by half an hour.

Under the revised schedule, trains during peak hours will run every 4 minutes and 15 seconds, compared with the current 6-minute intervals, allowing more efficient travel for commuters. Trial runs are scheduled to begin on Friday, September 26, and passengers will be carried during these tests. Following two weeks of trial operations, the full schedule will be formally introduced.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the metro, expects these changes to increase daily ridership beyond 500,000, up from the current average of 420,000. On August 6, the metro recorded a peak ridership of 456,746 passengers. The original project target was 500,000 daily commuters from Uttara to Motijheel, which is expected to rise to 677,000 once services extend to Kamalapur.

According to DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed, the plan to increase train numbers and operating hours had been under consideration for some time but was delayed due to manpower shortages. With new recruitment underway, the company is now ready to implement the changes, which are expected to ease road congestion, reduce travel time, and boost revenue.

New Schedule Highlights:

Morning: First passenger trip will start at 6:30 AM for limited MRT and Rapid Pass users, with regular service commencing from Uttara at 7:00 AM and Motijheel at 7:10 AM.

Night: Additional trains will depart Uttara at 9:10, 9:20, and 9:30 PM, and from Motijheel at 9:50, 10:00, and 10:10 PM.

The extension will particularly benefit commuters traveling late at night or early in the morning, including office workers, students, and city residents relying on public transport for long-distance commutes.

However, transport experts caution that simply increasing trips is not sufficient. BUET transport specialist Professor Md Hadiuzzaman noted that the number of coaches per train also needs to be increased, as current platforms were designed for 8-coach sets. He added that frequent additional trips could sharply increase electricity consumption, since metro systems are highly energy-intensive.

DMTCL officials say they are also assessing energy-efficient measures and technical upgrades to accommodate the increased service while maintaining safety and punctuality. If successful, the extended schedule will mark a significant improvement in Dhaka’s mass transit system, making metro rail a more reliable alternative to the city’s congested road networks.