Metro Rail to Operate Until 11 PM with Increased Frequency

The government is planning to extend the operating hours of the Dhaka Metro Rail further into the night while simultaneously increasing the frequency of train movements to accommodate the rising number of commuters in the capital.

According to sources within the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), authorities intend to add an extra 40 to 50 minutes to the nightly schedule, a decision expected to take effect either late this month or immediately following the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha. Technical assessments are currently being finalized to support this expansion, which will also see the current peak-hour headway of five minutes reduced to just 4.5 minutes.

Under the proposed new schedule, the final train from Motijheel to Uttara will depart at 11:00 PM, a significant extension from the current 10:10 PM limit. Similarly, the last train from Uttara to Motijheel is planned to leave at 10:10 PM instead of the current 9:30 PM. While the late-night hours are being extended, the morning start times of 6:30 AM from Uttara and 7:15 AM from Motijheel will remain unchanged for the time being.

This expansion will necessitate an increase in the total number of daily trips, which currently stands at 297. To maintain the faster 4.5-minute frequency during peak and extended hours, the DMTCL plans to increase the number of active train sets from 12 to 14. Currently, the transit system has 24 sets of trains available, each consisting of six coaches. This strategic move aims to further reduce city congestion and provide a more reliable and efficient late-night transportation alternative for Dhaka's residents following a similar one-hour extension implemented last October.