Mannan Flyover in Ctg: Confusion on ‘cracks’
The Chattorgam Development Authority (CDA) has ruled out the report that cracks have developed on two pillars of MA Mannan Flyover.
"As per information from our technical team, these are not cracks," Md Mahfuzur Rahman, executive engineer (project) of CDA, told The Daily Star around 7:30pm yesterday.
"It [that the cracks were developed] was a rumour," he said, adding these are actually marks created during the construction work and they have been there since the inauguration.
Before the technical team of CDA went for the inspection around 6:30pm, Hasan Bin Shams, its chief engineer, said, "Primarily it appears that the cracks have been developed on the surface plaster. It will not cause any structural damage or any major accident."
Confusions and concerns were created over reported development of cracks on the flyover pillars as the two agencies -- CDA and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) -- gave two different opinions about it.
The CCC is the authority responsible for maintenance of the flyover while CDA implemented the project.
"Apparently, these are cracks," said CCC Executive Engineer Shahin Ul Islam. "But details cannot be known until it is inspected by technical experts."
Seeking anonymity, a sub-assistant engineer of CCC, who visited the spot at around 11:30am yesterday, said cracks might have been created from the depth of the structure.
He, however, emphasised the importance of further inspection to reach a conclusion.
CCC Mayor Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury also visited the spot and told journalists that construction flaws could be the reason behind the cracks.
Meanwhile, the city dwellers suffered in traffic congestion after authorities closed down the flyover. Temporary shops were removed from the bottom of the pillars.
CDA began the construction of the flyover connecting Shulakbahar and Bahaddarhat in 2010. Fourteen people were killed when the girder of the under-construction flyover collapsed in November 2012.
On October 12, 2013, the prime minister inaugurated the flyover.
Later in 2017, the 326m long and 6.7m wide ramp was attached to the flyover to facilitate traffic movement.
"In December 2019, we handed over the flyover to Chattogram City Corporation but they did not take care of it properly as overloaded trucks always cross it," said Mahfuzur Rahman.
However, CCC's Executive Engineer Shahin Ul Islam alleged that it was CDA's responsibility to put height barriers on this flyover to control movement of heavy vehicles. But CDA did not do it.
CCC's Chief Engineer Rafiqul Islam while visiting the spot with the mayor told journalists that the ramp was not including in the main design. It was attached later, reports Prothom Alo.
The faulty design or movement of heavy vehicles might have caused the cracks, he added.
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