Joint Survey Exposes Defects in Highway Construction Work
Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Apr 18: Just when the citizens were expecting top quality highways to at last line the district and make road travel a pleasurable experience, a joint inspection report has revealed that national highway 17 between B C Road and Suratkal is full of defects.
A district-level road safety committee meeting on the inferior/sub-standard quality of New Mangalore Port Connectivity Road Project of NHAI (NH 17) and flyovers constructed by M/s Ircon was held on April 13, and inspection of the highway was conducted on Monday April 18.
Praveenchandra Shetty, chairman, road safety sub-committee (Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry) has strongly condemned the inferior quality of the road work.
The committee consisting of senior officials from RTO, DK District Police, MCC, NHAI, Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd (Consultants for NHAI), KPT and KCCI carried out the inspection.
Defects:
Inferior quality of flyover bridges at Kuntikana and Kottara Chowki Junctions: Uniform thickness of tarred surface within the spans is not maintained. Vehicles bounce up at the entry point, ramble along the bridge between the spans and get pressed down all of a sudden and lift up violently at exit point. Thus it is clear that flyover bridges are not in acceptable condition in any standard.
Traffic circle at KPT: Width of passage around the circle is much narrower than that of approach roads. Passage at circle is inadequate to maneouvre two vehicles running side by side simultaneously. Road to circuit house from this circle is off-centered. Islands around the circle, between the approach roads are out of shape in totality. The junction does not qualify to be fit for safe use in any manner as it poses severe danger to motorists, especially for traffic entering from other directions.
Surface level of stretch of roads between KPT junction and Padav School junctions: A little less than 2.5 km of stretch of road (in north-south direction) is built with three different surface levels. Vehicle bounces upwards thrice on these edges.
White paint on lane marking: Lane marking along the newly-constructed highway has almost disappeared within 3-4 months of use due to poor quality of paint used for the task. As these marks act as indicators to judge the direction of road during night driving, the purpose of the same is not served and miserably defeated.
Use of round marble pebbles as soling between Maroli and Bikarnakatta (Nathoor): Use of round marble pebbles reduces force of bonding on the sole of tar road. As heavy vehicles pass through this road, the pebbles slide sideways and give rise to potholes in monsoon. Abundant quantities of pebbles are used in this stretch as against graded sand, to save on cost of construction by compromising on quality and neglecting specifications. This will prove to be never-ending drain for financial resources of NHAI, in terms of maintenance and upkeep of highways.
Entire stretch of completed NH 17 from B C Road to Suratkal (stretches on which white lines are painted is as approved by consultants and considered as completed by project director of NHAI) is full of surface unevenness, uneven inclinations on varied angles on horizontal plane, ditches, potholes, defective joints, loose soling, improper shoulder, side way slip cracks, porosity, camel backs etc.
Decision of the Committee
- Quality of this highway and flyovers built by M/s Ircon was not approved by the committee for its poor quality and substandard workmanship and materials used.
- The defects on the highway are not safe for motorists and other road users. It has caused many road accidents, grievous injuries and claimed many lives.
- The said highway does not meet the specification and standard laid down in IRC (Indian Road Congress).
- Hence, quality and standard of entire stretch of road and flyovers on New Mangalore Port Connectivity Road Project of NHAI (NH 17 between B C Road and Surathkal) stands rejected by the committee.
It is further resolved that the written approval 'district-level road safety committee' under 'district administration' on workmanship and quality of material used is mandatory prior to handing over the said road to NHAI by M/s Ircon for use by public.
George Modayil, a team leader of M/s Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, in his bid to clarify for delay in completion of the road said that the work was started in 2005 with 30 months deadline. But it took 66 months due to land acquisition problem. All through the inspection, he agreed that works were of inferior quality.
Modayali added that project cost rose to Rs 264 crore from Rs 194 crore due to hike in price. He also said that the defects will be rectified and the report will be submitted to the district administration.
P N Gawasani, project director, National Highway Authority of India, Mangalore failed to attend the meeting. Praveenchandra accused that he was purposely missed the meeting.
After the joint survey P George Modayil refused to sign the acknowledgement receipt of this report. According to the report not a single stretch of road for even half a kilometer has been found to be satisfactory. Also, the committee demanded that M/S Ircon be blacklisted for poor deliverance.
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