Tackling the growing passenger pressure on Metro Rail Trains

Dhaka Metro Rail train. photo collected.

The Dhaka Metro Rail trains are experiencing a huge rush of passengers starting from 8 am. The crowding continues till 8-30 pm when the last train departs from the Motijheel Station. 

The rush was close to unmanageable limits during the Tablig Iztema which were held in two phases. At present people are availing the Metro Rail Train services to go to and fom the Ekushey Book Fair. 

The frequency of trains has apparently been increased to cope with the rush. The operators would be able to form an idea about the normal flow of commuters once the fair comes to an end.

The trend however seems to be on the rising side. Most of the time the operators of trains find the seats occupied just at the start of the trips at Diabari or Motijheel stations. Passengers embarking from other statitions have to remain standing untill they reach their destinations. The trips become uncomfortable for women and senior citizens. The practice of showing +courtesy to these categories of passenges by younger passengers is by and large absent. 

There is a compartment reserved for women. Crowding is less here. Many women however make trips riding the general buggies along with their spouses. Young people take the ride sportingly. Many of them are heard saying it matters little if they do not get seats because each trip takes only about 25 minutes. But when they take seats most of them remain indifferent to women or senior citizens making trips by remaining on their feet.

Further increase of frequency of the trains may reduce the pressure of passengers. A train after every two minutes is expected change the scenario.