The development comes after a slab of concrete on the Hero Honda Chowk flyover come off and cracks appeared at the base of the carriageway — pointing to construction lapses.
Days after a slab of concrete on the Hero Honda Chowk flyover come off and cracks appeared at the base of the structure — pointing to construction lapses — representatives of Valecha Engineering Ltd, the contractor who built the flyover, met experts from IIT Bombay.
Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have stated that unless and until the experts declared the flyover ‘fit for motor use and hands over the completion certificate’, the repaired portion of the carriageway will not be opened for commuters.
The experts will assess the condition of the flyover after a pothole, measuring 2 square feet, was found at one of its carriageways in the early morning hours last week. Cracks, too, were found at the base of the structure.
The bucket of an earthmover continued to cover the pothole for the time being. Meanwhile repairs are being carried out at the base. Commuters are, therefore, facing snarls at the flyover during peak hours owing to the diversions.
Madhusudan Rao, project manager, Valecha Engineering Ltd, said, “Our representative met IIT Bombay officials in Mumbai and it is expected that by Saturday, the experts will finalise their date for visiting the flyover and carry out the necessary assessment.”
Rao declined to divulge further details.
Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI, said the authority is awaiting a report from IIT Bombay.
The 1.4-km flyover has come under scrutiny just nine months after it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
