Staff Reporter:
A High Court-appointed investigation committee has recommended replacing damaged bearing pads on four metro rail pillars, repairing cracks in pillars and viaduct beams, protecting stations and control rooms from water intrusion, and procuring modern railway inspection equipment.
According to the report submitted to the High Court, the bearing pads on pillars 423, 442, 446 and 448 should be replaced on a priority basis.
The report, details of which emerged on Wednesday, said the recommendations should be implemented within one month and a progress report submitted to the court.
The committee was formed after the High Court, on October 29, 2025, ordered an independent safety audit of the entire metro rail project, including all pillars and viaducts.
The order followed three writ petitions filed after two separate incidents in which bearing pads fell from the metro rail structure. On October 26, 2025, pedestrian Abul Kalam was killed after a bearing pad fell at Farmgate. A similar incident had occurred a year earlier, raising concerns over the project’s safety.
Lawyer Tanvir Ahmed, representing the writ petitioners, said the committee submitted its report last week.
He said the report contains short-, medium- and long-term recommendations. The High Court has directed the authorities to implement the short-term measures within 30 days and report on the progress.
The report recommends regular monitoring of cracks and structural movement in affected pillars, immediate replacement of all damaged bearing pads, and expert supervision in identifying and repairing cracks in pillars and viaduct beams.
It also calls for measures to prevent water from entering stations and electrical control rooms before the monsoon, clearing blocked drainage systems, and procuring modern equipment for regular track inspections.
In addition, the committee recommended that trains with cracked or seriously defective wheels be withdrawn from service until repairs are completed.
The report also urged authorities to quickly identify and resolve problems in the power supply system, complete unfinished work by contractors, and ensure alternative safety measures remain in place until the emergency power supply system becomes fully operational so passengers can be evacuated safely in the event of an emergency.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/415264
