BBMP reopens flyover after keeping part of it closed for 15 days; says consultant misled it on type of joints that needed to be installed.
In an attempt to repair the damaged extension joints, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had blocked one side of the Sirsi Circle flyover. However, no progress has been made on this front as the repair works were not carried out as scheduled. The BBMP pointed fingers at STUP Consultants, the agency hired by the BBMP to study the expansion joints of Sirsi flyover. BBMP said the agency had given a false report about the extension joints, which had resulted in the postponement of repair works.
The extension joints on Sirsi Circle flyover were damaged due to heavy traffic movement. Wide gaps were created in the joints. As a result, when every time it rained, the rain water overflowed from the flyover and splashed on the commuters under the bridge. Besides, there were several instances of two-wheelers getting stuck between these open joints.
On March 30, the BBMP closed the traffic movement on one side of the flyover to replace the old joints with new ones. This was initiated after a report was submitted by STUP Consultants, which recommended the installation of modular joints. However, the real problem was unravelled when the engineers of Sanfield India opened the asphalt at the joints. They found that it was impossible to install modular joints. So on April 16, the BBMP technical advisory committee recommended the installation of finger joints.
BBMP’s engineer-in-chief BT Ramesh said the STUP Consultants are at fault. “They recommended the installation of modular joints. Based on the report, we called for a tender and the contract was given to Sanfield India. After their evaluation, we found that modular joints can’t be installed,” Ramesh said.
Sanfield engineers pointed out that if they cut the joints, it will damage the structure of the flyover. So the repair work has come to a standstill.
BBMP has fired STUP Consultants and now hired Civil Aid. “The finger joints will be designed in Bhopal by Sanfield. By the first week of May, the joints will shipped to Bangalore. On May 15, the engineers will begin installing the joints. By month-end, the work will be complete and traffic will be allowed to ply on the flyover,” he said. Until then, the BBMP has decided to seal the joints with asphalt and allow traffic movement. “We won’t pay any consultancy fee to STUP Consultants,” Ramesh said.
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