Metro rail accident: Probe body seeks more time to complete investigation
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The probe committee formed to investigate the metro rail accident in which a pedestrian was killed after a bearing pad fell from a pier of the elevated structure has sought more time to complete the investigation from multiple aspects.
Informing this, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Faruque Ahmed said after receiving the report, the company may seek the assistance of foreign experts to inspect the entire corridor thoroughly.
“The DMTCL’s first priority is the safety of the public and second is public convenience,” the MD shared these during an opinion exchange meeting on contemporary issues of Dhaka Metro rail with the members of Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) at DMTCL conference room on Wednesday.
Project directors of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 6, MRT 5 North and South and Company Secretary, among others, were present.
The MD said the DMTCL is still considering seeking the help of a third party for an overall review of designs, structures, tracks and rolling stock, as the problems being faced in the MRT 6, like the falling of bearing pads, overshooting, undershooting or vibration, might have individual or collective reasons.
When asked about the bearing pad that has been missing since the day of the accident, Mohammad Abdul Wahab, project director in charge of MRT Line-6, said the possibility of sabotage is also being investigated by the committee in connection with the missing pad.
The PD, who is a member secretary of the investigation team, said the Foreign Department’s DIG has been added to the committee to assist in this regard.
“It has been confirmed that the missing bearing pad also fell from the same pier at the same time as the other one, which accidentally hit the pedestrian,” he added.
The PD said the committee is expected to submit the report by November 23, as it sought 15 more days after the end of the first timeline on November 8.
The Road Transport and Highways Division formed the five-member inquiry committee headed by Bridge Secretary Mohammad Rouf as convenor soon after the accident occurred on October 26, which was the second time in over a year. The first accident that happened last year escaped fatality due to the fall of the heavy steel pad on the street, which occurred early morning when traffic was less.
Later, the government added two more members to the investigation team.