A threat to passenger safety

BROKEN and rusted metal clips of rail tracks of the Bangabandhu Bridge on the river Jamuna are not only costing the national exchequer dear, but also posing a serious threat to train travellers using this bridge.
Supposed to last three to four decades, these expensive elastic metal clips have been damaged within only one decade and a half of their installation.
Unquestionably these clamps are of poor quality. But railway officials have not said anything about their quality, but only blamed toilet wastes falling on the rail line from passing trains as the cause of their wear and tear.
However, an expert at the Buet maintains that since those are high grade purpose-specific clips, they should not have proved so fragile.
The question that naturally arises is how these substandard clips could get installed and who are responsible for that? There may have been some dubious dealing involved and the government must find out the truth.
The BR must replace the damaged clips, if only for secure and safe passage of thousands of travellers crossing the bridge everyday.
Steps for replacement have been taken only for about 20 per cent of a total of 59,000 metal clips found visibly damaged.
Now the BR should conduct a thorough investigation into the condition of the entire rail track and suggest measures for their early repair and maintenance.