Twenty-seven defective bearing pads on the Dhaka Metro Rail route have been identified as critical, while cracks of varying degrees have been detected in 46 piers, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told Parliament on Wednesday.
He disclosed the information while replying to a question from Cumilla-9 MP Abul Kalam during the question-answer session in Parliament.
According to the minister, a safety audit found that all 730 bearing pads along the metro rail route were not in critical condition.
Of the total, defects in 147 bearing pads were classified as minor, while defects in 297 pads were primarily related to installation workmanship. The remaining 27 defective bearing pads were categorised as critical.
The safety audit committee also identified cracks of varying degrees in 46 piers.
The minister said steps have already been initiated to implement the recommendations of the committee.
As part of the measures, steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where problems such as displacement of bearing pads could occur, he said.
Rabiul said settlement markers have also been installed for the 27 critical bearing pads, while a programme has been taken to replace all 27 pads by November 30.
He said the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is being appointed as a structural consultant to assess the risks associated with the cracks in the 46 piers and determine appropriate repair strategies.
Structural crack gauges are also being installed at 102 locations to measure and monitor cracks in the structure, the minister added.
100 more electric vehicles planned for women’s bus service
Replying to a question from reserved-seat MP Shacot Ara Akter, Rabiul said 14 women-only buses, known as Pink Buses, were currently operating on 13 routes in Dhaka, Bogura and Chattogram.
He said the government is taking steps to import another 100 electric vehicles (EVs) to expand the women-only bus service across the country.
BRTC has 1,298 buses, 525 trucks
In reply to a question from reserved-seat MP Sanjida Islam, the minister said the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) currently has 1,298 buses and 525 trucks.
Of the buses, 1,172 are operational and 126 are non-operational. Of the trucks, 494 are operational and 31 are non-operational, he said.
Railway network spans 3,428 km
Replying to a question from Cox’s Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman, Rabiul, who is also railways minister, said Bangladesh currently has 3,428 km of railway routes and 4,828 km of tracks.
He said the government is working to bring all districts under the railway network in phases in line with the government’s election manifesto and the Bangladesh Railway Master Plan.
In reply to a question from reserved-seat MP Shamsunnahar Begum, Rabiul said the government plans to procure 200 broad-gauge carriages to make railway services modern, safe, passenger-friendly and suited to contemporary needs.
The first consignment of 19 carriages is expected to arrive this month, he said, adding that a Development Project Proposal (DPP) is also being prepared for procuring 200 metre-gauge carriages.
Roof-top travel on trains not permitted
Replying to a question from Rajshahi-4 MP Md Abdul Bari Sarder, the railways minister said travelling on train roofs is not an authorised practice of Bangladesh Railway.
He said passengers sometimes travel on train roofs forcibly during different festivals, describing the practice as undesirable.
A decision to stop the carrying of passengers on train roofs will be taken after considering the technical aspects, Rabiul said.
He also said families of passengers killed in railway accidents are entitled to compensation under existing railway laws.
Battery-run rickshaws banned on highways
Replying to a question from reserved-seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, the road transport minister said battery-powered rickshaws are considered non-motorised vehicles under the Road Transport Act.
Their operation on national and regional highways is completely prohibited under the law, he said.
The government is taking measures, including conducting mobile court drives, to prevent battery-powered rickshaws from operating on roads and highways, Rabiul added.