While the Dhaka metro train has manifestly pleased thousands of Dhaka dwellers ensuring fast commuting services from one end to another of the expanded city - reports of chaos erupting at different stations have also triggered a huge concern. Ranging from overcrowding, indiscipline, rowdy behaviours to breaking queues and station rules have overwhelmed Dhakas metro stations. Moreover, in most cases the metro bogies are overcrowded with excessive passengers.
As expected, the demand has shot up with growing number of passengers, so we call on metro authorities not only to increase number of bogies, but also to aid in informing and educating passengers on how to benefit from the fast commuting train in a systematic and disciplined manner. Overcrowding the metro coaches has also resulted in a safety & security issue too.
The point, however, the metro train is a new phenomenon in our country. Quite agreeably, it was anticipated that disorder and overcrowding would occur. Need of the minute is to restore discipline, and at the same time we urge all metro passengers to practice patience and tolerance while boarding trains for respective destinations. Not to forget, life is far valuable to time saved.
Earlier on December 13, the Bijoy Sarani and Dhaka University stations on the Agargaon-Motijheel metro rail section opened to the public, since then the pressure had shot up. At present, trains are leaving for Motijeel from Uttara and vice-versa every 10 minutes during the peak hours and every 12 minutes during other times of the day. Consequently, we don see any point overcrowding platforms and coaches, and advise passengers to calmly wait for a few minutes for the next train to arrive.
Except Fridays, the metro rail is operating on the Uttara-Motijheel route from 7:10 AM to 8:40 PM every day. Those with a single journey ticket from the station are able to travel from 7:30 AM to 8 PM. To travel beyond this specified time, passengers must have an MRT or Rapid Pass.
We request all metro users to clearly comprehend which type of ticket or MRT pass best fit their needs, and also refrain from breaking station rules.
Though passenger pressure right now is high due to Dhaka International Trade Fair and Ekushey Boi Mela Book Fair, but in the long run metro usage is least likely to come down since, there has been a massive shift in the commuting pattern of Dhaka dwellers.
Concurrently, we also urge mainstream media outlets to launch a countrywide campaign on spreading out systematic and disciplined use of the metro train.
The least we expect to witness is - metro-passenger-jam replacing road-vehicle-jams in Dhaka.
