Users are worried about the cracks, but they say the BBMP has not done anything to repair the flyover.
A couple of joints on the HSR flyover have developed cracks causing traffic to slow down at those points. The wheels of several vehicles tend to get stuck in the cracks, causing consternation among users of the flyover.
Sayed, an auto driver who commutes on the flyover said, “I have seen many accidents and a lot of traffic on the flyover since the big crack developed. Many autos also get stuck in the crack. The cracks are there since last month but no authority is ready to take the initiative to repair it.”
Another commuter S.M Kumar said, “The condition is very serious, it feels like the flyover can fall one day. Before that the authorities should repair it and take care of all the flyovers on the stretch. It is a construction defect by the contractor.”
Dr. Radhakrishna, Head of the Engineering department at RV College of Engineering said that the cracks can lead to a very serious condition if authorities do not take care or repair them regularly. “The technique of constructing a flyover is the same all over the state and is done using joints, connecting it to avoid the crack on the flyover. But due to the fluctuation in temperature, the gaps between joints will expand which can be very dangerous for commuters and for the flyover also.”
He added, “This is why the authority concerned should take care of them regularly but unfortunately in Bengaluru due to corruption no one wants to do their work properly.”
The authority for this bridge is the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Lokesh, BBMP Chief Engineer at Mahadevapura said, “This is a clear case of construction defect by the authorities.”
The flyover was constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). According to the assistant engineer of BDA, Mr. Suresh Kumar, all the work of development and maintenance of the HSR road and flyovers have been shifted to BBMP on May 16, 2016.
He said, “Flyovers have been constructed under the BDA, but now we have nothing to do with the HSR Layout one as all the work of this part of the city has been given to BBMP to take care of.”
However, Jayasimha, BBMP executive said that they are looking into the issue and will repair it soon. “We have to wait for the allocation of funds and then we will issue tenders. We have issued the tender to repair all the flyovers on the stretch and the issue will be resolved soon. Public should show some patience, a similar issue on Peenya flyover was seen a few days back and the repair work has been started already.
Prof. M. N Sreehari, a transport expert who has supervised over 2,000 projects related to Traffic, Transportation, and Safety said, “BBMP’s policy to issue tenders for repairing work is itself an issue. Because issuing tender, selecting contractors, issuing money for tender, took long time to solve the issue, and because this problem keeps developing.”
He added, “People and authority who construct the flyovers cannot waste the money of the government. The construction quality of almost all the flyovers in Bangalore is very poor, if you want a good reliable structure contractor should use good materials while constructing the flyover. And if some flyovers develop a crack, they should be instantly filled and repaired.” However if authorities do not take care of these matters, this becomes a reason for many accidents on road.
