Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has announced that 27 defective bearing pads along the Uttara-to-Motijheel metro rail route in the capital have been identified as critical.

He also stated that cracks of varying degrees have been found in 46 piers (pillars) of the metro rail.

The minister provided this information on Wednesday, September 9, in response to a starred question from Cumilla-9 Member of Parliament Md. Abul Kalam during a session of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament).

MP Md. Abul Kalam had asked the minister whether, according to an independent audit committee report, 23.28 percent—or 730—of the bearing pads and 46 pillars along the Uttara-Motijheel metro route were found to be defective and cracked.

He also inquired about the steps taken by the government in the public interest to resolve these issues and ensure safe passenger travel if the information was correct.

In his reply, Sheikh Rabiul Alam stated that out of the 730 defective bearing pads, 147 defects have been classified as minor, while 297 stem primarily from the workmanship involved in their installation.

Only 27 defective bearing pads have been marked as critical.

Additionally, cracks of varying magnitudes were identified across 46 piers in accordance with the independent safety audit committee's report.

Detailing the government's steps to resolve the issues and secure passenger safety, the minister noted that Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) formed the "Safety Audit Report Recommendations Implementation Committee" on July 16 to ensure the timely and effective execution of the safety audit committee's suggestions.

This committee has already initiated measures to implement the panel's immediate recommendations.

The minister further explained that steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where bearing pads are prone to displacement.

Settlement markers have been installed at 27 spots to measure bearing pad settlement, and a program has been undertaken to replace all 27 critical bearing pads by November 30, 2026.

He added that the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is being appointed as a structural consultant to assess the risks and determine repair strategies for the 46 cracked pillars.

Structural crack gauges are being installed at 102 locations to measure and monitor structural fissures, with installation scheduled for completion by October 31.

Waterproofing work in substation rooms across all stations is also progressing rapidly.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam further informed the parliament that live tests for emergency rescue operations and control room coordination during power outages have been successfully completed to prevent future passenger inconveniences.