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Inspecting the under-operation metro rail for a safety audit may take more time, as the Dhaka metro rail company lacks the required information to support any independent inspection firm.
However, officials said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has started working to meet the compliance requirements of both the Inquiry Committee's recommendations and the recent High Court writ.
They said the company has begun keeping daily records of the 20-kilometre viaduct, track and other necessary components through inspections, and has formed an expert committee to conduct an internal audit of Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 (MRT-6) based on collected information and self-inspection.
According to DMTCL, four teams have been inspecting the overhead catenary system, viaducts including piers and bearing pads, track, and signalling interdependency on a daily basis since Sunday.
These records will be evaluated on a weekly basis and shared with all authorities concerned, including the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD).
DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said the company has taken these measures to implement the inquiry committee's recommendations step by step and to prepare for hiring an independent third-party auditor from a metro-experienced country.
"It takes time to appoint an international consultant as DMTCL does not have sufficient information to provide, due to the absence of a complete integrity test and functionality assessment earlier," he told The Financial Express at his office on Wednesday.
As per safety requirements, metro rail systems must obtain a safety accreditation certificate before commissioning. However, the state-owned company launched commercial operations of the country's first metro rail without certification from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) in late December 2022.
The ousted Awami League government forced the partial commissioning of MRT-6 ahead of the election without CMRS.
Safety concerns over MRT-6 have persisted due to frequent technical failures since its launch, one of which resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
smunima@yahoo.com