27 metro rail bearing pads critical, 46 piers cracked: Rabiul

A total of 27 bearing pads on the Uttara-Motijheel metro rail line have been identified as critical, while 46 piers have developed cracks, an independent safety audit found.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam shared the information in Parliament on Wednesday in response to a starred question during a question-and-answer session.
The audit identified 730 defective bearing pads, including 147 with minor defects and 27 classified as critical. Meanwhile, 46 piers of the structure have varying degrees of cracks, he said.
A programme has been undertaken to replace the 27 critical bearing pads by 30 November 2026, he said.
To implement the audit recommendations, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) formed a committee on 16 July 2026, which has already begun work, said the minister.
As part of the safety measures, steel brackets were installed at 10 locations where bearing pad displacement is considered possible. Settlement markers have also been installed at 27 locations to monitor and measure settlement of bearing pads, he said.
However, measures are also under way to monitor structural cracks. Structural crack gauges are being installed at 102 locations, with the work scheduled for completion by 31 October 2026, Rabiul said.
He said defects in 297 bearing pads were primarily caused by poor workmanship during their installation.
Responding to a query about public safety risk, Rabiul said that the government has decided to appoint BUET as a structural consultant to conduct a detailed risk assessment of the metro rail infrastructure and determine appropriate repair strategies.