Urgent steps needed to reopen Metro Rail, Expressway

Over the last week, the disgraceful scenes of ransacked and willfully damaged public property shocked the nation. Victims of the senseless mayhem included two stations of the Metro Rail, buildings of Bridge Division, BTV, Department of Disaster Management, BARTA, Narsingdi district jail, toll plazas of Hanif flyover and expressway, police stations, police boxes, the charred remains of hundreds of privately-owned vehicles, 29 DNCC garbage dump trucks and more.
Among the widespread destruction of public properties, the damage caused to the metro rail and elevated expressway infrastructures has seriously disrupted the city's transportation network. An angry mob vandalised metro stations, toll plazas, and even committed arson, leading to the suspension of these crucial services. Dhaka Metro Rail and Elevated Expressway are not just transportation systems; they have become lifelines for the city's transportation system within a short period of their opening. While the damage assessment and repair planning are still ongoing, the authorities' initial remark that it would take a long time to reopen these vital services is incomprehensible.
For example, without delving into the technical details of the damage, it has been estimated that it could take up to a year to reopen the metro services. Significant damage was reported at two key metro stations: Mirpur 10 and Kazipara. However, this raises the question: Can the metro services not resume while repairs are being conducted at these two stations? Given the crucial role the metro plays in the daily commute of thousands of people in the city, it is worth exploring interim solutions to mitigate the disruption.
Similarly, the reopening date for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway remains uncertain after the violent events led to the destruction of two toll plazas at the Mohakhali and Banani points. The expressway has six toll plazas along its various ramps, and only two were significantly affected. The authorities should urgently consider a mechanism to reopen the expressway while repairing these two damaged access points. Options might include temporarily waiving tolls at the damaged plazas or establishing alternative toll collection methods to maintain the flow of traffic and reduce congestion in the city.
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) are apparently taking cautious steps, prioritising safety and thorough inspections before resuming operations. DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique said the resumption of metro rail services will not be considered until a comprehensive report from an eight-member technical committee is received. Similarly, the BBA is waiting for an inquiry report before making any decisions about reopening the expressway.
The sooner these services are restored, the sooner normalcy can return to the daily lives of Dhaka's citizens. It is crucial for the authorities to act swiftly and decisively, ensuring that the necessary repairs are completed without unnecessary delays, and that the city's transportation network is brought back to full functionality as soon as possible. Even partial reopening of these two critical transport infrastructures could provide significant relief to the city's overburdened transport network and restore some semblance of normalcy for commuters.
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