27 bearing pads critical, cracks found in 46 piers on Metrorail: Minister tells Parliament

Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, has told the Jatiya Sangsad that 27 faulty bearing pads on the Metrorail route have been identified as critical, adding that cracks of varying degrees have been found in 46 piers.

The minister disclosed this while replying to a question from Abul Kalam, lawmaker of Cumilla-9, during the question-and-answer session of parliament on Wednesday. The sitting began under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

Shaikh Rabiul Alam said that according to the report of the Safety Audit Committee, not all of the 730 bearing pads on the Metrorail route are critical. Of these, 147 pads have minor defects, while the defects in 297 pads are mainly related to installation workmanship. Twenty-seven faulty bearing pads have been identified as critical, and the audit committee's report found cracks of varying degrees in 46 piers.

The minister said activities have begun to implement the recommendations of the Safety Audit Committee. Steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where displacement of bearing pads could occur, and settlement markers have been placed on 27 bearing pads. A programme has been undertaken to replace these 27 bearing pads by November 30. BUET is being appointed as structural consultant to assess the risk of cracks in the 46 piers and determine repair strategies, while structural crack gauges are being installed at 102 locations to measure and monitor structural cracks in the infrastructure.

Replying to a question from Sarwar Jamal Nizam, lawmaker of Chattogram-13, Shaikh Rabiul Alam said various investment possibilities identified around the Karnaphuli Tunnel could not be implemented on time for various reasons. He said the current government, after assuming office, has taken various initiatives to create new possibilities for industrialization and investment centring on the Karnaphuli Tunnel. Instead of considering the tunnel merely as a communication infrastructure, initiatives have been taken to develop it as one of the important foundations for the economic development, industrialisation, tourism development and balanced regional development of south Chattogram.

The minister said Tk 10,255.29 crore has been spent on implementing the Karnaphuli Tunnel construction project. He said various questions have already been raised regarding the construction and implementation of the project, and the Anti-Corruption Commission is conducting an investigation into the matter.

Replying to a question from Sanjida Islam, a lawmaker from a reserved seat, the road transport minister said the country currently has 1,298 BRTC buses and 525 trucks. Of these, 1,172 buses are operational and 126 are out of order, while 494 trucks are operational and 31 are out of order.

Replying to a question from Shawkat Ara Akter, a lawmaker from a reserved seat, Sheikh Rabiul Alam said 14 women's buses (pink buses) are being operated on 13 routes in Dhaka, Bogura and Chattogram cities. Import of another 100 electric vehicles (EVs) is under way to expand women's bus services across the country.

Replying to a question from Niluphar Chowdhury Moni, a lawmaker from a reserved seat, Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain said the number of pending cases related to violence against women and children currently stands at 27,182.

Replying to a question from Md Ruhul Amin, lawmaker of Chuadanga-2, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the country's demand for textiles is about 800 crore metres, of which knit fabric accounts for 400 crore metres and woven fabric for 400 crore metres. He said the shortage of knit fabric is about 10 percent, while the shortage of woven fabric is 60 percent.

Replying to a question from Abdul Alim, lawmaker of Bagerhat-4, the Textiles and Jute Minister said the country currently has 266 government and private jute mills, of which 193 are operational.