On December 28, 2022, the Honorable Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the first Metrorail of Bangladesh. The government took up the Metrorail project in 2012. For this purpose, in 2013, the government entered into a loan agreement with Japan Development Cooperation Agency (JICA). After feasibility study and design work started in 2017. The work started with the plan to implement the project in total 6 phases by air and ground. Among them MRT Line-6, MRT Line-1, MRT Line-5 have two routes Northern and Southern, MRT Line-2, MRT Line-4. The construction of physical infrastructure started with the construction of Metrorail depot at Diabari in Uttara area. Under MRT Line-6, the 11.73 km Metrorail route from Uttara to Agargaon in Dhaka has been launched for the first time.
Metrorail is a dream name for us Bangladeshis. It has been the center of interest of the eager crowd since its inauguration. Therefore, the Metrorail has become a place to relieve the work fatigue of the capital’s residents and to have a little entertainment. A few days after the inauguration, the Metrorail will run from 8 am till 12 pm. Then it will last all day. Metro stations were overcrowded two days after the Metrorail opened to the general public. Even after standing in line for several hours, many could not board the train. Today January was my first Metrorail experience. Needless to say, I had previously ridden the subway in Kolkata, India.
Three storey station
Every station from Uttara to Kamalapur has three floors. On the second floor there are office rooms for officials, ticket counters and waiting rooms. Third floor platform. Passengers have to book tickets on the second floor for specific destinations. The ticket will be checked digitally. No staff is required there. If no one can then the security personnel will assist the passengers. Three types of arrangements have been kept for the convenience of the passengers. Along with stairs and escalators, there will be lifts for the elderly and people with special needs.
Metrorail fares
The minimum fare for Metrorail travel has been fixed at Tk 5 per kilometer at Tk 20. Passengers can pay Metrorail fare through smart card. Single entry card has a one-time travel period. And ten-year card passengers can travel again and again. The amount will be automatically deducted according to the distance traveled. Passengers with 10-year validity card do not have this problem. By touching the card, the amount will be deducted according to the distance of the journey.
How to get in and out
Trains will stop at this platform at regular intervals. After buying the ticket, one has to enter the paid zone to catch the train. For that, by touching the ticket at the designated place in the automated entryway, the door will open. The next area is the paid zone. Now walk a bit on the indicated path and use the stairs or escalator to go to the third floor, there is the platform. Elderly and disabled persons can also use the lift to reach the third floor. There will be a ‘Platform Screen Door (PSD)’ between the platform and the train. For safety you must stay outside the yellow spot without standing on the edge of the PSD. One has to wait there for the train. The door will open automatically. Passengers get off, get on.
Travel on Metrorail
At the station where one is waiting, one has to board the train after the destination passengers have disembarked. After boarding, one can sit in the train if there is an empty seat. However, the management authority of Metrorail is giving preference to elderly and people with special needs in terms of seating. After boarding the train, keep an eye on the display and the route map — where one is and how far his destination is, will all be shown on the display. Mike will also regularly announce which station has arrived, which station is ahead. The visually impaired can hear it and prepare to get off.
After reaching the destination, one has to go down to the second floor, i.e. the concourse level, by taking the stairs, escalator or elevator as before. Exiting the station will again have automated doors on the second floor. If one is an MRT pass holder, the door will open by touching the ticket at the designated place. And the single journey ticket holder has to drop the ticket at the designated place. He exits the paid zone as soon as the automated door opens. One has to get off at the destination for which one has booked a single journey ticket. If one has traveled the extra distance, you will not be able to exit the station. In this case, you will be allowed to exit only after paying the fare for the additional distance traveled by going to the ‘Additional Fare Collection’ room. Those who will not need pay to travel by metro rail
Children and brave freedom fighters do not have to pay fare to travel in metro rail. However, the height of the child must be less than three feet and must be accompanied by a guardian. Meanwhile, Metrorail does not have half fare for students like buses. However, those using Mass Rapid Transit or MRT Pass will get a 10 percent discount.
Penalty for traveling in Metrorail without ticket or valid pass, etc.
If any person, without a ticket or a valid pass, travels on the Metrorail beyond the permitted distance or adopts any other tactic for the purpose of evading the fare, the said person shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable to a fine of up to 10 (ten) times the Metrorail fare. shall be and in case of non-payment of the said fine shall be punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 6 (six) months.
This is a name of relief for the residents of the capital who are suffering from traffic congestion. People are moving from Uttara to Agargaon in just 10 minutes and 10 seconds. From March 26, 2023, trains will run stop-and-go at all metro stations. Currently 10 trains with 6 coaches will run. Each train can carry a maximum of 200 passengers. Trains will run more frequently if people get used to ticketing, boarding and movement. Passengers will also be taken more.
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