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A High Court-appointed investigation committee has recommended the immediate replacement of bearing pads on four damaged pillars of Dhaka Metro Rail to ensure passenger safety following a series of accidents.
In a report submitted to the High Court on Wednesday, the committee identified bearing pads on pillars numbered 423, 442, 446 and 448 as requiring urgent replacement. The court directed the authorities to report within one month on the progress of implementing the recommendations.
The committee also called for repairing cracks in metro pillars and viaduct beams, protecting stations and electrical control rooms from waterlogging, and procuring modern equipment for regular inspection of rail tracks.
The investigation was ordered after a bearing pad fell from the elevated metro line at Farmgate on October 26 last year, killing pedestrian Abul Kalam. A similar incident had occurred the previous year, raising concerns over the structural safety of the metro system.
According to the report, damaged pillars should be monitored regularly for cracks and settlement, while all defective bearing pads should be replaced without delay. Experts should also determine the causes of structural cracks and oversee repair work.
Ahead of the monsoon season, the committee recommended preventing water from entering stations and control rooms, ensuring drainage systems remain operational, and strengthening track inspection capabilities. Trains found with cracked or seriously damaged wheels should remain out of service until repairs are completed.
The committee further advised authorities to promptly address faults in the power supply system, complete unfinished contractor work, and maintain alternative emergency safety measures until the backup power system is fully operational to ensure the safe evacuation of passengers during emergencies.
