A pothole and cracks were discovered on the less-than-a-year-old flyover on Monday. It is expected to open sometime next week.
Much to their horror, commuters on Monday discovered a two-square-feet pothole on the Hero Honda Chowk flyover in the early morning hours. There were cracks as well at the base of the flyover. These developments led authorities to make the entire carriageway to inaccessible to commuters till quality checks were carried out and repairs completed.
The diversions due to the ongoing repair work have, as expected, led to snarls, especially during peak hours.
The 1.4-km-long flyover was inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar just in July last year.
Ashish Kapoor, a resident of Pataudi, opined, “It has just been nine months since the flyover’s inception. Such developments indicate terrible quality of construction. I would rather use the arterial roads even if it takes more time.”
Shalini Sareen, a resident of Manesar, who avails the flyover, complained, “It wasn’t until just a few metres before the earthmover that commuters were alerted to an obstacle on the flyover. The authorities should have placed warning signs or notices about route diversions well in advance.”
“Repairs are under way and a team from IIT Bombay will come down soon for inspection. It will assess and check the flyover’s structural strength before pronouncing the repaired portion fit for motor use. The team will also hand over the completion certificate of the flyover,” confirmed Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI.
A day after the incident, most of the repair work had been carried out and the bucket of an earthmover was placed at the site of the pothole and traffic cones were positioned around the area to create diversions.
But the carriageway would be opened completely to the public only sometime next week, once NHAI completes its checks and officials declare the flyover safe for motor use on the repaired stretch.
