Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has identified 45 types of defects and shortcomings in the metro rail system built from Uttara to Motijheel in the capital. These issues include problems in signaling and telecommunications, electrical systems, infrastructure, and train operations.
According to a 63-page DMTCL report, major flaws include rainwater leaking into stations, air-conditioning system failures, and frequent malfunctions in ticketing machines. While the system was designed to fail for only one passenger out of every 100,000, in reality, nearly 1,500 passengers per 100,000 face problems on their first attempt.
Officials say the contractor did not complete work properly and used substandard materials. Despite repeated letters, most of the issues remain unresolved.
Following the recent fatal incident at Farmgate — where a bearing pad from the metro structure fell and killed a pedestrian — concerns have been raised over the project’s safety. However, DMTCL officials claim that while these flaws may not pose a major accident risk, they frequently disrupt operations and require repeated repairs.
The project’s original estimated cost was Tk 21,985 crore, which has now risen to Tk 33,472 crore, making it one of the most expensive metro rail projects in South Asia.
Engineer Faruk Ahmed, the newly appointed managing director of DMTCL, stated, “A detailed investigation into all the flaws and deficiencies is underway. The contractor and consultant must be given additional time to resolve these issues.”
Meanwhile, passengers have also reported that rainwater leaks inside stations and depot areas during rainfall. Many said they get wet while waiting on platforms, and water accumulates near escalators and lifts.
DMTCL confirmed that they have identified 89 leakage points across 16 stations and have already written to the consulting firm to fix the problem. However, most of the issues remain unresolved.