KOCHI: The Association of Structural and Geotechnical Consulting Engineers has written to
DMRC principal adviser E Sreedharan
seeking answers to 14 questions regarding
demolition
of the
Palarivattom flyover
.
The association also promised to extend support for its reconstruction. It said the pier and pier caps of the flyover are in an irredeemable condition, as per a report submitted by Sreedharan to the government. The report goes on to say the structure can be strengthened by jacketing, but then the life span of piers and pier caps cannot be guaranteed for next 100 years. Since reconstruction will only involve replacing existing girders with new ones, the association sought to know how the life span of the flyover can be guaranteed for 100 years without reconstructing piers and pier caps.
The association said replacing the existing reinforced cement concrete (RCC) girders with prestressed concrete girders without conducting a load test is a violation of the contract reached with the construction agency. The government cannot recover compensation from the agency in this scenario and the state exchequer will be at a loss.
What is the benefit of a four-lane flyover in
Palarivattom
which will fail to address traffic woes after just 15 years considering the volume of vehicles taking to the roads, it asked. Vytilla and
Kundannoor
bridges are six lane ones, which can better cater to rising traffic volume.
The association wondered what made Sreedharan point out that the cost of repair work by IIT Madras is underestimated, and why were IIT experts not called to clarify?
“We sent the letter to
E Sreedharan on Monday and are awaiting his reply,” said Anil Joseph, former president of the association.
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