The High Court committee’s recommendation to replace bearing pads on the Dhaka Metro Rail is a timely reminder that even our most modern infrastructure is vulnerable when maintenance is not treated as a core responsibility.
To say that the metro rail has transformed daily life in Dhaka would be an understatement, and Dhaka is in desperate need of more such interventions when it comes to our public transport that offers speed, predictability, and relief from the usual gridlock.
However, the long‑term success of any project, and certainly the metro as it stands today, depends entirely on how seriously we take safety and upkeep.
Bearing pads are not minor components. They absorb vibration, stabilize tracks, and ensure smooth, safe movement of trains. If they are worn out, poorly installed, or substandard, the risks escalate quickly.
That such concerns have surfaced so early in the metro’s operational life should prompt urgent action, not complacency. Maintenance schedules, independent audits, and timely action upon findings must become the norm. Safety cannot depend on sporadic checks or reactive repairs.
We have a troubling history of building major infrastructure and then neglecting it. Bridges weaken, ferries operate without inspection, buses run unfit, and railway lines deteriorate until tragedy forces attention. This is what we must break away from.
It is imperative therefore that the metro rail does not fall into this pattern. If we are to imagine a sustainable future, and enact projects that align with this vision, then they must be protected through rigorous, routine maintenance.