CTG Flyover: Confusion ends as no crack found
The MA Manna Flyover in Chattogram will be opened for vehicular movement within two days as an expert team yesterday found no evidence of the cracks suspected to have formed in two pillars of its ramp.
"We examined the pillars and found no cracks," said Shahajahan Alam, a member of the expert team.
Shahajahan is the director of Design Planning & Management (DMP) Consultants Ltd, a private engineering firm that designed the flyover. He talked to The Daily Star around 4:40pm yesterday and the team inspected the spot in the morning.
"From a far distance, it looks like a crack. But in reality, this is not a crack," said the primary investigation report prepared by the team.
"This is a construction joint where foam was used but it has not been not cleaned yet," it mentioned.
The five-member expert team was comprised of representatives from Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), DPM Consultants and Max Infrastructure Ltd.
The government body CDA implemented the flyover project while private company Max Infrastructure constructed it.
The report also recommended imposing a ban on operation of heavy vehicles through the ramp, installed at Bahaddarhat point after the inauguration of the flyover.
Contacted, CDA Executive Engineer Md Mahfuzur Rahman said, "We will open the flyover within two days."
He added, "We will set up height barriers within two days to control operation of heavy vehicles through its ramp," he added.
Earlier on Monday night, authorities concerned suspended vehicular movement over and under the flyover after what looked like cracks appeared on two pillars of the flyover.
It created confusion and panic among people and different media outlets ran reports on this issue.
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) mayor along with top officials and engineers of CCC and CDA have visited the spot since Tuesday morning.
The CCC is the authority responsible for maintenance of the flyover.
On Tuesday evening, the CDA ruled out the report of cracks and said it was a rumour.
The construction of a one-kilometre flyover connecting Shulakbahar and Bahaddarhat began in 2010.
Thirteen people were killed when a girder of the under-construction flyover collapsed in Chandgaon in November 2012.
On October 12, 2013, the prime minister inaugurated the flyover.
In 2017, the 326m long and 6.7m wide ramp was attached to the flyover to facilitate traffic movement.
On Tuesday, CCC's Chief Engineer Rafiqul Islam, while visiting the spot with the mayor, told journalists that the ramp was not included in the main design.
Md Mahfuzur Rahman, executive engineer (project) of CDA, said, "The ramp was constructed to eliminate traffic jam in Bahaddarhat area which was not in the main design of the project."
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