Metro rail service suspended for 2 hrs due to technical glitch

The metro rail operation was suspended for two hours on Wednesday morning, just two days after the country's first mass rapid transit (MRT) line experienced a 40-minute delay in service.
Officials said an inquiry committee has been formed to identify the fault in the operation and submit a report within a week.
Sources said that trains from both the Agargaon and Uttara sides came to a halt around 9:30 am on Wednesday after a short circuit in the overhead catenary system between Agargaon and Shawrapara.
They mentioned that train operations resumed around 11:45 am after two technical teams physically traced the fault by walking along the track from both sides of Shawrapara and Agargaon.
An official at Agargaon station told the FE that passengers from the halted MRT Line 6 train were disembarked as the train was taken to Shawrapara station by utilising saved electricity.
However, other trains on the track were halted at nearby stations, and passengers were advised to make their own transportation arrangements if they preferred not to wait.
The incident occurred during a tree-planting ceremony at Agargaon station, organised by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). The event was attended by the Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri and DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique.
While talking to the managing director over the phone, Mr Siddique said the train operation had been suspended for passenger safety after an automatic system showed an electricity supply issue in the morning.
He said the two teams found a circuit break between Shawrapara and Agargaon stations after inspecting the line from both sides. This inspection took two hours to complete.
"We have not found any fault in our system, but the inquiry committee will investigate the incidents to determine the reasons," he added. However, he did acknowledge that there might be risks for the passengers.
The committee, composed of consultants, experts and DMTCL officials, will submit a report within a week.
Regarding the incident of a 40-minute delay in MRT operations on Monday, the MD mentioned that the internal system also issued an alert about a problem with electricity fluctuation, which was investigated during that time.
Since December 29, the DMTCL has been operating MRT Line 6 from Uttara to Agargaon. The prime minister inaugurated the first 11.7 km of the 20.1 km track.
Although MRT Line 6 marks the country's inaugural metro rail operation, all aspects of its implementation and execution were supported by Japanese-led contractors and consultants.
The tracks were constructed by a Thai company, while the overhead catenary system (OCS) was established through a joint venture involving Indian and Japanese companies.
DMTCL initiated the first phase of MRT Line 6 operation ahead of schedule and aims to launch the remaining segment from Agargaon to Motijheel by October 15. However, completing all types of train trials before the inauguration poses a challenge.

smunima@yahoo.com