Dhaka Metro Rail MRT Line 6: Full Route Map, Stations, Fares, and 2026 Updates

Dhaka Metro Rail MRT Line 6: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

Getting across Dhaka used to mean one thing: traffic. A ten-kilometre journey from Uttara to Motijheel could consume two hours on a normal weekday, three or more when the roads were at their worst. Since December 2022, a different option exists. The Dhaka Metro Rail — officially MRT Line 6 — covers that same distance in under 40 minutes, on elevated tracks above the congestion below.

With over 350,000 daily riders and growing, MRT Line 6 has become the most consequential infrastructure addition to Bangladesh's capital in a generation. This guide covers the full route, all 16 operational stations, the complete fare structure, operating hours, ticketing options, and the latest 2026 updates — including the Kamalapur extension now underway.

Myanmar Genocide Case at ICJ 2026: What It Means for Rohingya Justice

The Route: Uttara North to Motijheel

MRT Line 6 runs entirely elevated along a north-south corridor through the heart of Dhaka. The line stretches 20.1 kilometres from Uttara North in the city's northern residential suburbs to Motijheel, Dhaka's primary financial and commercial district. The full journey takes approximately 35 to 38 minutes end to end.

The line was built in two phases. Phase one — Uttara North to Agargaon — opened on 29 December 2022. Phase two — Agargaon to Motijheel — opened on 5 November 2023, completing the current operational route. A third phase, extending the line 1.16 kilometres further south from Motijheel to Kamalapur Railway Station, is under active construction and targeted for opening on 1 January 2027.

The line was engineered to Japanese standards, built with financing and technical assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at a total cost of approximately USD 2.8 billion. It is, on a per-kilometre basis, one of the most expensive mass rapid transit lines constructed in Asia — a reflection of the engineering complexity of building elevated rail infrastructure in one of the world's most densely populated cities.

All 16 Stations: Full List North to South

MRT Line 6 currently has 16 operational stations. Below is the complete list from north to south, with key area descriptions for each stop.

1. Uttara North (Diabari) — Northern terminus. Serves Uttara's Diabari residential area. Nearest metro station to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Future park-and-ride integration planned.

2. Uttara Centre — Serves the commercial and residential core of Uttara Model Town. High weekday traffic from schools, offices, and markets.

3. Uttara South — Covers the southern portion of Uttara, completing metro access across the entire Uttara zone.

4. Pallabi — Entry point into the Mirpur corridor. Connects to major bus routes serving western Dhaka. High-density residential catchment.

5. Mirpur 11 — Serves the Mirpur 11 section, with connections to local bus networks and nearby educational institutions.

6. Mirpur 10 — One of the busiest stations on the line. Adjacent to Mirpur 10 roundabout, a major transport interchange. Close to Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

7. Kazipara — Residential station serving Kazipara and surrounding Mirpur communities.

8. Shewrapara — Serves the Shewrapara neighbourhood, connecting further Mirpur residential zones to the city centre.

9. Agargaon — Major interchange station. Close to the National ID card office, several government ministries, and NICVD hospital. This was the southern terminus from December 2022 until November 2023.

10. Bijoy Sarani — Serves the Tejgaon industrial and commercial zone. Close to several embassies and the VIP road corridor.

11. Farmgate — High-traffic station. Connects commuters to Gabtoli and Sayedabad bus terminals. Surrounded by banks, commercial offices, and shopping areas. One of the most congested boarding points during peak hours.

12. Karwan Bazar — Serves Dhaka's largest wholesale market and media district. Adjacent to several major newspaper offices and the Bangladesh Television headquarters.

13. Shahbagh — University and cultural hub. Close to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the National Museum, and the Shahbagh intersection — a historically and politically significant landmark in Dhaka.

14. Dhaka University — Serves the main campus of the University of Dhaka, the country's largest and most prominent public university. High student ridership.

15. Bangladesh Secretariat — Serves the government administrative complex, the seat of Bangladesh's national bureaucracy. High commuter demand from civil servants and visitors to government offices.

16. Motijheel — Current southern terminus. The financial heart of Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank, major commercial banks, corporate headquarters, and government offices. Opened 5 November 2023. This station is the future interchange point for the Kamalapur extension.

Rohingya Crisis 2026: 1.2 Million Refugees, No Repatriation, and Shrinking Aid

Fares: How the Pricing Works

Dhaka Metro Rail uses a distance-based fare structure. The rate is fixed at ৳5 per kilometre, with a minimum fare of ৳20 and a maximum fare of ৳100 for the full end-to-end journey from Uttara North to Motijheel.

In practical terms, this means short trips — one or two stations — cost ৳20, while the complete 20-kilometre ride costs ৳100. Intermediate fares fall between those two figures depending on distance travelled. Compared to Dhaka's alternatives — CNG auto-rickshaws, ride-sharing, or buses stuck in traffic — the metro offers both speed and competitive pricing for most commutes along the north-south corridor.

For regular users, the MRT Pass and the Rapid Pass both offer a 10% discount on all fares. The MRT Pass launched at the same time as the metro in December 2022 and is rechargeable at station counters. Both cards are valid for ten years and function identically in terms of fare discounts and boarding privileges. Passholders also benefit from slightly extended operating hours — services begin earlier and end later than for single-journey token users.

Single-journey tokens are available at ticket vending machines and staffed counters at every station. All ticket offices and vending machines close at 8:50 PM, so passengers planning to travel on the last trains of the day must purchase their tokens before that time.

Operating Hours: Weekdays, Saturdays, and Fridays

MRT Line 6 operates seven days a week, but Friday hours are substantially reduced due to lower demand during the Islamic day of congregational prayer.

On weekdays and Saturdays: the first train departs Uttara North at 6:40 AM, and the last train departs at 9:30 PM. From the Motijheel end, the first train leaves at 7:00 AM and the last at 10:10 PM.

On Fridays: service begins at 3:30 PM and runs until 9:00 PM. MRT Pass and Rapid Pass holders have access from 7:10 AM on Fridays, but regular token service does not begin until the afternoon. Travellers relying on tokens who need to move early on Fridays should plan accordingly and use alternative transport.

During peak hours — roughly 8:00 to 10:00 AM and 5:00 to 7:00 PM — trains run at intervals of 6 to 8 minutes. Off-peak headways extend to 10 to 12 minutes. The system currently runs 12 trains on the line, with two kept as backup.

Tickets and Smart Cards: What to Get

There are two ways to ride MRT Line 6. Single-journey tokens are plastic chips purchased at vending machines or counters, tapped at entry, and deposited at the exit gate after the ride. They are the straightforward option for infrequent riders and visitors.

For regular commuters, the MRT Pass or Rapid Pass is the better choice. Both are rechargeable smart cards available at any station with a valid ID. The 10% discount adds up quickly for daily users — at ৳100 per full-route journey, a commuter making the end-to-end trip twice daily saves ৳20 per day with the card, or roughly ৳440 per month on a standard working schedule.

No pets, oversized luggage (above 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches or exceeding 15 kilograms), or hazardous materials are permitted on the metro. All stations have security screening, CCTV coverage, and emergency exits. Two MRT Police officers are stationed in each train coach.

2026 Update: Kamalapur Extension Status

The most significant development for MRT Line 6 in 2026 is the Kamalapur extension. As of January 2026, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) confirmed that construction had reached 69% completion on the 1.16-kilometre extension from Motijheel south to Kamalapur Railway Station.

DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed confirmed in January 2026 that all 177 piles, pile caps, piers, and station columns had been completed by December 2025. As of the same period, 25 of 27 spans had been lifted, with the concourse roof, platform slabs, and steel roof structure also completed. The target opening date is 1 January 2027.

When Kamalapur opens, it will add one station to the southern end of the line and create an interchange point with MRT Line 1 (the airport underground line, also under construction), MRT Line 2, and MRT Line 4. The Kamalapur Multimodal Hub will connect metro rail directly to Bangladesh Railway's main Dhaka terminal — making it possible to transfer from intercity rail to the metro in a single station.

The total length of MRT Line 6 upon Kamalapur's opening will be 21.26 kilometres, with 17 stations from Uttara North to Kamalapur.

What Comes After: Dhaka's Metro Expansion Plan

MRT Line 6 is the only operational metro line in Dhaka today, but three additional lines are at various stages of development.

MRT Line 1 (Airport Line) is under construction. This 19.9-kilometre route will be Bangladesh's first underground metro, connecting Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur Railway Station with 12 underground stations. Expected opening: around 2026–2027, though construction timelines have shifted repeatedly.

MRT Line 5 (Northern Route) broke ground in November 2023. The approximately 20-kilometre line will run from Hemayetpur in Savar through Mirpur, connecting with Line 6 at Mirpur. Target opening: approximately 2028. A southern branch to Aftab Nagar and Badda is also planned.

MRT Lines 2 and 4 remain in the planning stage. Line 2 is expected to connect Gabtoli with Kamalapur via Old Dhaka. Line 4 was proposed to link Kamalapur to Narayanganj but may be deferred in favour of upgraded commuter rail. Analysts and government reports have noted that most planned metro lines are likely to miss their original 2030 completion targets.

When the full network is eventually complete, Dhaka's Strategic Transport Plan envisions six metro lines covering most major urban and suburban corridors, integrated with bus rapid transit and suburban rail in a unified, city-wide transit system.

Using the Metro: Practical Notes for Daily Riders

A few practical details that matter for anyone using MRT Line 6 regularly. The full route from Uttara North to Motijheel takes approximately 35 minutes — roughly one-third to one-quarter of the time the same journey takes by road during peak traffic hours. For commuters travelling the full corridor, the time saving alone is the primary reason ridership has grown steadily since the line's opening.

Peak hour crowding — particularly at Farmgate, Mirpur 10, and Motijheel — is a known issue. Reports from 2024 documented passengers unable to board trains during peak headways of 10 to 12 minutes as trains filled quickly. DMTCL acknowledged manpower constraints as a contributing factor and has been working with the system's technology provider to address overshooting and undershooting issues that slowed boarding and alighting.

The nearest metro station to the airport remains Uttara North, which is not connected by any rail link to the terminal itself. Reaching Uttara North from the airport requires a road journey of approximately 5 to 10 minutes by car or CNG. This gap will close when MRT Line 1 opens with a direct airport station.

For the millions of Dhaka residents who live and work along the north-south corridor — from Uttara's residential blocks to Motijheel's bank towers — MRT Line 6 has already changed the daily calculus of getting around the city. The Kamalapur extension and the lines that follow will expand that transformation further.

win-tk.org is a WinTK publication.