Metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel was suspended for atleast 12 hours due to technical faults, causing severe traffic congestion in the capital. Commuters were struggling, often resorting to walking to reach their destinations.
Commuters suffer greatly because they must spend hours stuck in traffic jams, especially those who commute to work. The suspension started at the Agargaon metro station at 9:20 am. However, the service resumed around 9 pm on Wednesday.
A notice has been found hanging at Shewrapa station saying Metro Rail is operating from Uttara to Agargaon. "There has been a major problem in that rail track. It will take some time to fix. The Metro Rail service is currently operational only from Uttara North to Agargaon," DMTCL Director of Operations and Maintenance Nasir Uddin Ahmed told the daily Bangladesh Post.
People on Wednesday expressed disappointment, saying they came to Agargaon to go to Motijheel, but the metro was not available due to some problems.
A huge gathering was also seen at Agargaon station as they were waiting to go to Motijheel at that time.
Many passengers, however, got off the train. Some were seen taking other vehicles and some starting on foot for destinations.
A metro station official said the train movement from Uttara North to Agargaon is normal.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) authorities said on a Facebook post that workers were making announcements at the Agargaon station, noting the metro rail will run up to Agargaon and will not head to Motijheel due to technical faults. The authorities also detected some problems on the tracks of metro rail between Bijoysarani and Farmgate.
“Works are on to fix the problem, and we hope it will be fixed by this afternoon," an official said.
According to Prof. Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman, a former director of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) and Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET), the bearing pad's purpose in this instance is to slightly compress it as the vehicle passes over it and then return to its original position once the train has moved. A picture demonstrates that the viaduct has not moved back to its initial position, suggesting that either the bearing pad has fallen out or has ceased to function. This location connects to the viaduct. The pillar will shatter if the bearing pad is released from this location. The viaduct is kept flexible by these bearing pads. The viaduct is not meant to sit this way if any one of these two things does not occur.
When asked if it was unusual for the bearing pad to fail so quickly, Prof. Hadiuzzaman replied that it was essential because it not only supported the train's weight but also functioned during earthquakes. Although I think the bearing pads were installed here following extensive testing, it is still necessary to look into the reasons behind the incident. The capital city has been witnessing severe traffic congestion for the past one week, causing immense suffering for them.
The general public is spending extra money and time due to the chaotic movement of public transport in the city.
“The authorities concerned should take steps immediately to resume metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel. Besides, they will also have to bring discipline on the city roads,” Abu Taher, a trader, told the Bangladesh Post on Wednesday.
Many think the increase in the number of rickshaws and other vehicles is the main cause behind heavy traffic congestion.
Talking to this correspondent, Srabanti Prodhan, a university student expressed her grave concern over gridlock, saying it seems that there is no end to people’s sufferings. “Traffic jam not only eats up our time but also saps our energy. Illegal occupation of spaces under flyovers has also led to traffic jams,” she added.
As many as seven lakh non-motorised vehicles, such as rickshaws, vans, and carts, have been also plying the city roads alongside motorised vehicles, which have greatly contributed to the city’s traffic jam.
Motorised and non-motorised vehicles are also kept on the city's main roads in a scattered way.
Both Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation have undertaken a set of measures, including revival of river routes, construction of new roads, and modernisation of existing traffic systems in coordination with the government’s multilateral approach to ease traffic congestion.
Shahinul Haque, a retired man, said it is the responsibility of traffic police, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), city corporations, and bus owners’ organisations to maintain order in public transport. “The authorities concerned must take integrated, coordinated, and effective measures to bring discipline on roads as early as possible. Considering the chaotic traffic situation in the city, they must resume metro rail service immediately,” he added.
As the officials and employees of government and autonomous institutions came out of the streets on Wednesday morning to reach their respective workplaces, they faced serious difficulties to get transports, while many of them remained stuck on their ways for hours due to heavy traffic gridlock in different parts of the capital.
Many had thought that they would not face any gridlock on their way as the city roads and streets usually remain free in the morning.
But they saw their hopes for reaching office on time shattered.
Apart from the office goers, morning shift students and teachers of schools and colleges also had to go through tremendous sufferings due to lack of public transport and traffic jams.
Besides, different political parties’ programs and RMG workers’ demonstrations on roads have also recently deteriorated the traffic situation in the city.
Employees of different organisations and students of universities, colleges, and schools often demonstrated at different parts of the city, protesting against any issue or demanding fulfilment of their demand, bringing the entire city traffic to a standstill.
