Hyderabad, July 11: There are more cracks in the new Muslim Jung bridge than what were detected just before it was about to be inaugurated two years ago.
Other than the earlier cracks in the cantilever and strengthening of the badly constructed pillars, a technical committee had also concluded that the bridge, which was under construction for several years, could not take any vehicular load at all.
Now, more cracks have come out in the open in the structure with its basic design found to be faulty. The new cracks have surfaced when the repair works for strengthening the bridge was going on.
These ‘hairline cracks’ were observed in the web portion of longitudinal ‘T’ girders between piers six and seven. And similar hairline cracks were also found on girders.
These were detected while lifting the piers five and six for replacing bearing pads as part of the repair works being taken up for the cracks noticed first time. It was brought to the notice of GHMC Engineering-in-Chief P. Panduranga Rao in February first week this year following which a committee was formed headed by Chief Engineer (Roads & Buildings) S. Jaswanth Kumar, Technical Director of Civil Aid Eswar and GHMC’s Superintending Engineer (Projects-2).
The panel visited the site immediately and brought it to the notice of the Commissioner who in turn directed them to take up major repairs. Four load tests were conducted on piers six and seven slab under the direct supervision of a technical consultant Civil Aid in March.
Its recommendations to fill gaps between girders and bearings estimated to cost Rs. 1 crore were accepted by the committee and later by the Commissioner. The Municipal Corporation has already sunk in more than Rs. 7 crore on the bridge over the last decade excluding the present cost. Yet, all the cracks that have been surfacing periodically do raise doubts about the bridge’s safety for public use.
-Agencies