Two more metro rail stations – TSC of Dhaka University and Bijoy Sarani-- have been opened in Dhaka city on Wednesday, ushering a new era in student connectivity.
The metro will significantly reduce students’ academic loses for usual grinding traffic contestation in the city.
The metro rail reached the TSC station at 7:45 am from Motijheel, greeted amid much festivity by Dhaka University students ready to embark on their first journey.
With the opening, fifteen of the 17 planned stations on the Dhaka metro rail line have opened, excepting the ones at Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar. The route stretches from Uttara North station to Kamalapur.
Expressing her excitement, DU student Mubassira Prionty said, "Dhaka University holds a special place in our hearts, and the metro rail is a new beacon of development in Bangladesh's public transport sector. Today, I'm thrilled to experience this dream journey from my own university. I even left my hall early to catch the first train from TSC".
Taibur Rahman Sifat, a Department of Mass Communication and Journalism student, emphasized the transformative impact of the TSC's metro rail station on the lives of Dhaka University students.
“Many students from Mirpur and Uttara previously suffered due to severe traffic congestion, spending hours in jams to reach the campus. The metro rail will bring relief to them enabling them to commute in just 20 minutes from Mirpur and under half an hour from Uttara,” he said.
Demanding half fare for students, he said: “High fare of metro rail can be difficult for students to bear.”
Taibur hoped that university authorities would collaborate with metro rail authorities to explore options for implementing a reduced fare for students.
Another student, Abid Raihan, who initially opposed the metro station due to environmental concerns, now appreciates the convenience it offers.
She said: “Now that I see that I won't miss classes in the morning, I won't waste hours on the road due to traffic jams, then it feels good.”
Labhlu, an employee at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), shared his personal experience, describing the metro rail as a beautiful and revolutionary addition for Bangladesh.
He said: “My home is in Uttara. I have to come to office in TSC every morning. I am often late due to traffic jams. Now I can come to office on time using metro rail.”
Emdadur Rahman, another student, expressed his enthusiasm for the convenience the metro rail brings. "Riding the metro rail for the first time feels great. Now, I won't miss my 8:00am classes and can avoid the hassles of traffic on the road. The TSC metro rail station is a blessing for students commuting from distant areas," he stated.
Arafat Rahman, a non-resident student who travels from Uttara, highlighted the need for affordable fares for students. "The current metro rail fares might be challenging for many students. I hope the university and metro rail authorities can work together to implement reduced fares for us.
"The metro rail is a game-changer, especially for those coming from Mirpur and Uttara. What used to be hours in traffic is now a mere 20-minute journey from Mirpur and less than 30 minutes from Uttara," he emphasized.
These two stations of the Agargaon-Motijheel section will remain open till 11:30am, while all stations from Uttara to Agargaon will operate from 7:30am to 8:30pm.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the Agargaon to Motijheel section of the metro rail on Nov 4, 10 months after the opening of Uttara to Agargaon portion.Currently, train service is available from Uttara to Motijheel from 7:30 am to 11 am. The service time will be extended further, said DMTCL.
The metro rail service was first introduced on Dec 28, 2022. For now, trains are running from Uttara to Agargaon from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.
