The head of Dhaka Mass Transit Company (DMTCL), Md Faruk Ahmed, stated that the recent collapse of a metro rail bearing pad was not a sudden event but likely due to design, construction, installation, or consultancy issues. Faruk emphasized that the incident was not random and could have resulted from structural design flaws, construction quality, improper installation, or consultancy oversights.
Highlighting that over Tk 1,000 crore was spent on consultancy, Faruk suggested that there might have been misunderstandings regarding critical technical aspects. He mentioned that the causes could be interconnected. An investigation committee is already in place, and DMTCL has commenced an independent safety audit of the metro infrastructure by an international company due to the seriousness of the matter.
Faruk stressed the importance of addressing the issue promptly, mentioning that the bearings, designed to last 50 years, were failing within two years. French firms have shown interest in conducting the safety audit, and with ministerial support, the process is being expedited. Replacement of any faulty components will be guided by the audit findings.
Notably, both the recent incident and a previous one occurred under Contract Package CP-05. Despite the defect liability period for the contractor ending on June 29, DMTCL has not accepted it due to existing outstanding works, deficiencies, and defects. Financial matters like performance bond and final bill release are pending until all defects are rectified.
After last year’s incident, DMTCL conducted a comprehensive drone survey and physical inspections of all pillars, identifying deformations in some areas. Immediate actions were taken, such as installing barricades and instructing the replacement of certain bearings. Further inspections post the recent incident revealed minor displacements, with temporary measures like barricades and mechanical fixture tightening in place while seeking permanent solutions through bearing replacements.
A new monitoring approach utilizing CCTV cameras on metro rail bearings for real-time functionality tracking was announced as a temporary measure by Faruk. He stressed the need for a lasting solution rather than relying solely on temporary measures, citing concerns over widespread surveillance. The incident in October in Dhaka’s Farmgate area resulted in a pedestrian’s death and injuries to two others when a bearing pad from a metro rail station pillar collapsed.