Twenty-seven bearing pads on the Uttara-Motijheel metro rail route have been classified as critical, while cracks of varying severity have been detected in 46 piers, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told parliament on Wednesday.
A total of 730 bearing pads were found to have defects in an independent safety audit. Of these, 147 were classified as minor and 27 as critical, the minister said in response to a starred question in parliament.
The question was raised by a Comilla-9 lawmaker Abul Kalam, who sought clarification on reports that 23.28% of the bearing pads along the route were defective and that cracks had been detected in 46 piers.
The lawmaker also asked about measures taken to address the defects and ensure passenger safety.
The minister said Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was being appointed as the structural consultant to assess risks along the metro rail route and determine appropriate repair strategies.
According to the independent safety audit report, defects in 297 bearing pads were primarily linked to workmanship during installation. The audit also identified cracks of varying severity in 46 piers.
Rabiul clarified that not all 730 defective bearing pads were considered critical.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) formed a committee on July 16 to implement the recommendations of the safety audit report. The committee has already started work on the audit's immediate recommendations.
Steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where bearing pad displacement could pose a risk, the minister said.
Settlement markers have also been installed at 27 locations to monitor settlement of the bearing pads.
A program was undertaken to replace the 27 critical bearing pads, with the work targeted for completion by November 30.
Structural crack gauges are being installed at 102 locations to monitor and measure structural cracks. The government aims to complete the installation by October 31, 2026, according to the minister.
The measures are being implemented based on recommendations from the independent safety audit, he said, adding that ensuring the safety of metro rail infrastructure and passengers remains a priority.