27 Metro Rail Bearing Pads Classified Critical

A total of 730 bearing pads on the Uttara-Motijheel metro rail route have been identified with defects. Of these, 147 have been classified as minor, while 27 have been identified as critical. Cracks of varying degrees have also been detected in 46 piers of the metro rail infrastructure, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam told Parliament.

The minister disclosed the information in response to a starred question during Wednesday’s parliamentary session, September 9, 2026.

A member of Parliament from the Cumilla-9 constituency asked whether an independent safety audit had identified 730 defective bearing pads, representing 23.28 percent of the total, and cracks in 46 piers on the Uttara-Motijheel route. The lawmaker also sought details of government measures toaddress the issues and ensure passenger safety.

In response, the minister said Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, or BUET, is being appointed as the structural consultant to assess the risks of the metro rail infrastructure and determine repair strategies.

According to the minister, defects in 297 bearing pads are primarily related to workmanship during installation.
He clarified that although the independent safety audit identified 730 defective bearing pads, all of them were not classified as critical. A total of 27 pads were identified as critical.

To implement the recommendations of the independent safety audit committee, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, or DMTCL, formed a committee on July 16, 2026, titled the ‘Safety Audit Report Recommendation Implementation Committee’.

Steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where bearing-pad displacement could potentially create structural risks. Settlement markers have also been installed at 27 locations to monitor bearing-pad settlement.

A programme has been undertaken to replace the 27 critical bearing pads. The replacement work is targeted for completion by November 30, 2026.

Further structural monitoring measures are also being introduced. Structural crack gauges are being installed at 102 locations to measure and monitor structural cracks. The installation is targeted for completion by October 31, 2026.

Following the identification of defective bearing pads and structural cracks, authorities are proceeding with risk assessment, monitoring and necessary repair measures. Further repair strategies are expected to be determined based on expert assessments and structural test results.
//DBTech/ADO/SME/MIST//