Hairline Hullabaloo: Jamuna Rail Bridge ‘Cracks’ Clarified as Superficial Hairlines

The Jamuna Rail Bridge Project authorities have issued an official clarification regarding a viral social media video that allegedly showed “cracks” under one of the bridge’s pillars.

According to the project officials, the visible marks are not structural “cracks” but minor “hairlines.” These fine, thread-like gaps were identified beneath several pillars and have already been sealed using adhesive resin to restore the surface to its original state.

Project Manager Mark Habib explained, “Hairlines were detected under eight to ten pillars on the western end of the rail bridge. These are not actual cracks but the result of extreme heat. Repair work using special resin coating has already begun in those areas.”

He further emphasized, “This is not a construction flaw, nor does it involve any ‘honeycomb’ issue. Due to excessive heat and adverse weather, tiny gaps—measuring between 0.1 and 3 millimeters—formed beneath the concrete. These have no impact on the bridge’s structure or stability.”

Habib added that the affected areas are being gradually polished and restored, assuring that the bridge’s structure and train movement remain completely safe. He alleged that “some individuals deliberately magnified the photos and circulated them on social media to create confusion.”

Notably, the Jamuna Rail Bridge—constructed 300 meters upstream from the existing Jamuna Bridge—was built at a cost of Tk 16,781 crore. The 4.8-kilometer-long structure features 50 pillars and 49 spans. It was officially inaugurated on March 18, 2025, and includes dual-gauge double tracks for two-way train movement. Train operations began on one line of the new bridge on February 12 this year.