Dhaka’s ambitious Metro Rail service, connecting Uttara to Motijheel, has significantly disrupted the traditional public transport ecosystem, particularly affecting bus services along the Mirpur-Agargaon-Farmgate-Paltan route. The introduction of this modern transit option has resulted in a substantial decrease in bus ridership, with operators reporting a 30-40% decline in the number of buses on this route.
Transport proprietors anticipate a further decrease in bus numbers as the warmer months approach, predicting that the allure of the metro’s air-conditioned comfort will attract even more commuters away from buses. The waning appeal of buses, once a primary choice for Dhaka’s commuters, is particularly noticeable during peak metro operational hours, despite a visible reduction in traffic congestion.
The potential extension of metro rail service hours beyond the current 7:10 am to 8:40 pm timeframe threatens to intensify the financial strain on bus operations, prompting owners to contemplate rerouting their fleets or selling them off. Md Shahjahan, Managing Director of Shikhor Paribahan, highlighted the scale of the downturn, stating, “From a daily tally of 500-600 buses, we’ve plummeted to just 300-400 buses on the Mirpur-Agargaon-Farmgate-Paltan route.”
Shikhor Paribahan, previously operating up to 90 buses daily, has seen its fleet reduce to 60-65. Similarly, Bikalpa Auto Service has halved its operations, from 40-50 buses to merely 20-25, according to Managing Director Mahbubur Rahman. This trend has left employees like Aminul Islam, a bus helper for Shikhor Paribahan, concerned about their livelihoods as passenger numbers dwindle.
While CNG-run autorickshaws and bike ride-sharing services have also felt the competitive pressure from the metro rail, their income reductions have been less severe. However, for commuters like Ashraful Alam, the metro’s efficiency outweighs any cost savings offered by buses, with the metro rail dramatically reducing his travel time to Motijheel.
Abu Raihan Md Saleh, Joint Commissioner (Traffic North) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), acknowledged the positive impact of the metro rail on traffic flow and discipline along the Mirpur-Motijheel route. He added that traffic movement has become faster on the Uttara-Airport-Mohakhali route due to metro rail services and the opening of the Elevated Expressway, despite congestion persisting in other parts of the city.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s phased inauguration of the metro rail’s sections – the Uttara-Agargaon segment in December 2022 and the Agargaon-Motijheel section in November 2023 – has ushered in a new era of commuting in Dhaka. With extended operational hours implemented since January 2024, the metro offers a 30-minute commute from Uttara to Motijheel, providing a compelling alternative to traditional bus travel amid Dhaka’s notorious traffic congestion.