Stranded on road: Frustrated commuters face gridlock, double fares after metro rail suspension
The suspension of train operations — the second major incident involving a falling bearing pad in just 13 months — left thousands of commuters stranded and frustrated across the capital.
Dhaka's transport system descended into chaos at noon today (26 October) after metro rail services were abruptly suspended following a fatal accident in which a man was struck and killed by a falling mechanical pad.
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The incident occurred around 12:15pm when the pad, estimated to weigh up to 50 kilograms, detached and fell from the metro structure, killing the man instantly as he walked along a footpath. The pad also smashed into a nearby tea stall, injuring two others.
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Witnesses described the scene as a "sudden loud bang" that "shook the whole area."
The suspension of train operations — the second major incident involving a falling bearing pad in just 13 months — left thousands of commuters stranded and frustrated across the capital.
"As I reached Mirpur 10 Metro Station, the gates were already sealed shut. With metro operations suspended, commuters rushed to find alternatives," said M Samin Sajid Nahr, a researcher at The Business Standard, recalling the sudden breakdown of the city's mobility network.
"The crowd's desperation was palpable. Buses instantly became packed beyond capacity, with people hanging from the doors, leaving no way in. The struggle was particularly acute for the helpless, as women and children struggled to find any space amid the crowd," Nahr added.
Fares surge, gridlock spreads
As metro services halted, buses, auto-rickshaws, and ride-sharing vehicles became overwhelmed. Fares skyrocketed almost instantly.
"The immediate reaction of the ride-sharing platforms and auto-rickshaws was a brutal surge in prices," Nahr noted. "A ride that typically costs Tk140 on a ride-share app was instantly marked up to Tk300. The roads were filled with people scrambling for CNGs, whose fares had also doubled."
Failing to find a ride near Mirpur 10, Nahr took an auto-rickshaw to Agargaon, where he finally managed to get a CNG that charged him over Tk100 more than usual. What is normally a 30-minute journey turned into one hour and 20 minutes of exhausting delay.
Echoes of past warnings
This latest suspension has once again raised questions about the safety of the metro system. A similar incident occurred in September 2024, prompting experts to warn of potential design flaws in the bearing pads that support the viaduct.
At that time, Professor Hadiuzzaman of Buet's Accident Research Institute cautioned that the viaduct structure might need greater pressure resistance and improved technology for bearing pads, warning that "the integrity of the pillars could be at risk without properly functioning bearing pads."
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) apologised for the "temporary inconvenience" and urged commuters to remain patient.
However, the accident — and the immediate collapse of the city's transport network that followed — underscored the capital's extreme vulnerability to a single failure in its transport infrastructure.
