Metro rail service is working wonder but it still can do better

The metro rail service has brought about a paradigm shift in the city's commuting. But it only serves certain areas of the metropolis. Yet the experience of the fortunate commuters availing of the service is overwhelmingly positive. Following the Padma Bridge, it's this particular infrastructure project that is bringing direct benefits to consumers on a daily basis. As a regular user of the service, certain observations can be made on what incremental changes can be made to further improve the passengers' comfort level.

It had long been a major complaint that the train timing was too short because not everyone leaves work at 6pm in the city. Happily, now the metro rail authority (DMTCL) has extended the departure time of the last train up to 9.40pm. Hundreds of thousands of people in the city are either self-employed or work in the private and service sector. For them, closing time begins at around 8pm and they do need to go back home. Gridlocks on roads during the month of Ramadan have broken past records and who doesn't want to get home by availing a service that takes minutes (and not hours) in air-conditioned carriages on a rail track that has no traffic lights? So, extending the time table comes as a great relief to its users.

For Dhaka residents who do use metro rail on a regular basis, one of the major complaints is the long waiting lines at metro rail stations to get tickets. The authorities have made arrangement for MRT pass. This is a very simple procedure. There is a booth at every metro rail station where commuters can get a 10-year pass on the basis of their NID number. This provides the card holder with security, since the card may be either lost or stolen. If either of the two things happen, card holder can simply report it at the booth, in which case the previous card will be blocked and a new one issued. Card holders do not need to wait for hours to get their tickets, they simply swipe them at the gate and go straight to the platform to hop on to the next train that comes at 10 minutes' interval. To sweeten the deal, DMTCL gives card-holders a 10 per cent discount on each commute. Sadly, the bulk of regular commuters on the metro have no idea that there is a pass for users. Sustained media campaigns are needed, as are television advertisements, engagement on social media - will all help get the message across faster. It will reduce the gathering in front of ticket vending machines and also help DMTCL generate revenues faster.

Another suggestion for DMTCL concerns entry and exit. Wide staircases have been installed at entry and exit points to metro stations. Since Bangladeshis are not the most patient of races, there is much jostling, pushing-and-shoving done here sending tempers flaying. It would not cost much for DMTCL to put in physical barriers like a big divider in the middle of a staircase and also physical barriers that swing only one way, ensuring that each side of the stairway is used as a one-way traffic for passengers. Older people use the metro, so do minors, adolescents and women and they need hassle-free, disciplined and easier entry and exit.

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