Metro faults repeatedly noticed but not resolved
Yet, it has happened again – this time with deadly consequences. Today (26 October), around 12:20pm, a load-bearing pad on Pillar 433 near Farmgate station detached and fell, resulting in the death of a pedestrian and injury of two others.
The fall of a bearing pad from the metro rail structure a year ago should have been a wake-up call for authorities to examine the flaws in such a critical infrastructure in the capital.
Yet, it has happened again – this time with deadly consequences. Today (26 October), around 12:20pm, a load-bearing pad on Pillar 433 near Farmgate station detached and fell, resulting in the death of a pedestrian and injury of two others.
Just a year ago, on 18 September 2024, a bearing pad on pillar 430 near the same station fell from the metro structure. Although no casualties occurred then, services were suspended for nearly 11 hours.
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Since the construction of Dhaka's MRT-6 metro rail project began in 2016, concerns over construction quality and engineering flaws have surfaced repeatedly. In 2020, tests by Buet's Department of Mechanical Engineering revealed that substandard bearing pads had been supplied for the project.
Experts point to the project's consultants as primarily responsible for the lapses. They said contractors often seek cost-cutting opportunities and may provide inferior materials, but it is the consultant's duty to ensure construction methods and safety standards are properly followed.
Metro authorities, however, have said they have yet to determine the exact cause of the latest accident. A five-member investigation committee has been formed by the ministry to submit a detailed report.
Committees formed, but no action taken
After last year's incident, a seven-member committee was formed under the then Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) director Abdul Baki Mia to investigate the cause and recommend preventive measures.
However, no action was taken against anyone, nor were the specific flaws officially identified.
Asked whether any measures had been implemented based on the previous committee's report, DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said all observations were reviewed and cross-checked by experts.
"The parties responsible were given an opportunity to rectify defects, so no punitive action was taken. The flaws were corrected," he told The Business Standard.
He added, "We have now formed a five-member investigation committee, which will submit its report within two weeks. Steps will follow based on their findings."
Md Hadiuzzaman, civil engineering professor at Buet and a DMTCL board director, told TBS that last year's and this year's accidents are similar and likely due to design flaws.
"The primary issue here is the metro authorities' lack of vigilance. After last year's accident, the entire corridor should have undergone an audit of the design and load-bearing pads. The pads used should have been randomly tested to check quality and placement suitability," he said.
He also said he was unaware of what recommendations the previous investigation committee made or which flaws it identified. "The problem lies in the committee's composition itself. Those responsible for metro development and supervision were also tasked with investigating it, preventing the root causes and defects from coming to light."
He further explained that several curves exist along the Farmgate section where bearing pads were installed without adequate support.
"The vibrations caused by passing metro trains can displace the pads. If three or four pads shift simultaneously, it could trigger a major accident, potentially causing the train itself to derail," said Hadiuzzaman.
What are load-bearing pads
In early 2020, tests conducted at Buet revealed that these pads imported for two packages of the Uttara-Agargaon section were substandard. These pads had been supplied by the contractor Ital-Thai. Despite Buet flagging concerns about their quality, the metro authorities went ahead and installed them.
Experts explain that load-bearing pads act like cushions. When a vehicle or train passes over a bridge or flyover, the pressure does not directly impact the pillar but is absorbed by the bearing pads. The pad's role is to distribute the load evenly across the pillar, minimising vibrations and shocks during movement.
However, Hadiuzzaman said while bearing pads support the weight of metro train carriages – often thousands of tonnes – they are less effective on curves or uneven stretches. In such cases, deviations can occur, and he recommends using Pot Bridge Bearings.
"Paid for quality advice, but didn't get it"
Md Shamsul Hoque, civil engineering professor at Buet, said, "This incident shows that we are paying for quality consultancy, but the advice received falls short."
He said the problem is not limited to material quality. The fact that this has happened twice at the same spot raises broader concerns about quality control across the project.
On accountability, he stressed that consultants must bear primary responsibility. While contractors may cut corners, it is the consultant's duty to ensure proper construction methods and safety standards are followed.
"Since this is Bangladesh's first metro project, Japanese consultants were hired at substantial cost, yet they failed to ensure quality," Shamsul Hoque said, observing that Japanese consultants often charge inflated fees while sending insufficiently skilled personnel.
He called for a competitive procurement process and the inclusion of clauses to hold consultants accountable. He added that in other countries, funding agencies ensure competent consultants are deployed, whereas in Bangladesh many projects are executed through non-technical personnel.
