The P.V. Narasimha Rao Expressway developed cracks on pillar no. 20, creating panic among motorists. After the recent incident at Ameerpet metro station, everyone’s focus is on flyovers and the construction of the Metro Rail. The P.V. Narasimha Rao Expressway in Hyderabad, that connects the city to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), has developed cracks following the heavy downpour that lashed the city, prompting officials to take action.
However, officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) said there was no need to worry.
The crack was first identified on Wednesday and a few people had posted photos of the damaged pillar on Facebook and Twitter. Later, film director Kona Venkat shared a picture of it on his Facebook and Twitter feed. He pointed out that pillar no. 20 of the PVNR Expressway had developed cracks and asked the authorities to take care before it was too late.
The director tagged GHMC and the Minister for municipal administration and urban development, Mr K.T. Rama Rao in his post. Photos of the cracks, which reportedly developed on pillar number 20, were widely shared on social media.
Local people said that they found it only yesterday but can’t say when the cracks first developed. They said it may have developed following the torrential rains that lashed the city over the last few days. They said there may be no danger to the structural health of the expressway, but they fear what would happen if a piece fell down.
Chief engineer of HMDA, Mr B. L. N. Reddy, said a team of engineers inspected the spot and it was found that there is no danger to the structure as the cracks were not developed either on a pillar or girder.
“The flyover is totally intact. People should not panic,” he said. He added that repair work would be carried out overnight.
Steps taken
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) acted on Thursday, sending a team of engineers to the spot. Stating that repair work and necessary patchwork would be carried out in the night, officials said that there was no reason to panic and said that the structure was still sturdy.
“There is sufficient gap between box girders, but there isn’t enough gap between the railings, which resulted in the cracks. Maintenance of expansion joints is the need of the hour. Keeping in mind the height, we cannot ignore the cracks as chunks of pillar might fall and be a threat to commuters below,” vice-president of Structural Engineers Congress S P Anchuri, told the Times of India. The crack on the flyover is a cause of concern, as the city is still reeling from the death of a 24-year-old woman earlier this week in an incident at a metro station.
Source – news minute, deccan chronicle, tv9
