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Country's first metro rail completed its first year of operation on Thursday, without facing any major challenges.
Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique, however, reported some minor challenges experienced after launching the first part of the MRT 6 and said the challenges were addressed immediately.
He was sharing the operational experience at a press conference at the DMTCL conference room, where he also announced the opening of the last two stations - Shahbagh and Kawran - of the MRT 6 on Sunday.
The MRT 6 will then cover all its 16 stations on the 20.1-kilometre corridor.
Answering a question, Mr Siddique said the existing schedule will continue until March next - this period of time is necessary to synchronise the timing between Uttara-Agargaon and Agargaon-Motijheel parts.
The DMTCL first launched the MRT 6 operation between two stations of Uttara North and Agargaon for three hours on December 29 last year, followed by gradual opening of all nine stations in this part while extending the time of operation until 8pm in May this year.
The other part of the MRT 6, from Agargaon to Motijheel, was opened on November 5 for four hours from 7:10 am with two other stoppages at Farmgate and Bangladesh Secretariat stations. The Bijoy Sarani and Dhaka University stations were opened on December 13.
Replying to questions about the challenges, Mr Siddique particularly mentioned the problems of flying lanterns on the 31st night of last year, throwing a stone at a train window, and handling machines of single journey tickets.
He said the DMTCL has already alerted the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to restrict releasing lanterns within one kilometer area of both sides of the entire MRT tracks.
Regarding the passenger capacity, the MD claimed that more than 60,000 passengers would be able to commute per hour once the MRT 6 starts its full-fledged operation on the entire corridor.
Around 135,000 to 156,000 passengers are now commuting daily since the opening of the two parts of the MRT 6, he added.