Staff Reporter:
Metro rail services in Dhaka were halted for over half an hour yesterday following an electrical failure that disrupted the busy Uttara-Motijheel route, inconveniencing numerous commuters.
Iftekhar Uddin, General Manager of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), said that the dis-ruption was due to a problem with the power supply from the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC). “Operations were suspended due to a power outage at 2:27 pm,” he said. “However, services resumed at 3:04 pm.”
Passengers experienced significant delays during the outage. Abdul Alim, a commuter at Secretariat sta-tion, recounted his experience: “The train suddenly stopped at Shewrapara Station, and an announcement over the loudspeaker instructed all passengers to disembark. We waited on the platform for around 35 minutes.”
The interruption sparked frustration among regular passengers, who voiced concerns over the recurring nature of such disruptions. Ishita, another passenger, said she had to leave the station with her elderly mother after waiting for some time. “It’s incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re traveling with someone who has mobility issues,” she remarked.
General Manager Iftekhar Uddin assured that the DMTCL is addressing the issue with the DPDC to pre-vent future occurrences.