The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Bridge mess: engineers’ suspensions to be revoked

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Friday, Aug 17, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Bridge mess: engineers’ suspensions to be revoked

Muslim Jung bridge beset with problems from the beginning

Cracks noticed in the newly constructed bridge
Private contractor and the design firm blacklisted

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is said to have decided to revoke suspensions of the seven engineers who were earlier suspended after cracks were noticed in the newly constructed Muslim Jung Bridge over river Musi two months ago.

The seven engineers including two, who were repatriated to their respective parent departments are to be let off pending a detailed departmental inquiry by the Engineer-in-chief of Roads & Buildings Department, Siva Reddy.

He would ascertain for any lapses on the part of the engineers overseeing the design approval, execution of work and quality control.

The orders were conforming to Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department’s recent directive seeking a high-level probe into the alleged lapses by the engineers for faults noticed in the cantilever part of the new bridge.

“ high-level technical committee had already indicated that the cracks in the bridge surfaced because of the defect in detailing work due to the faulty design.

Now, the departmental probe will ascertain if there were any lapses on the part of the engineers,” explained a senior official.

However, the private contractor P. Narsimha Rao & Company and the design firm, Descon Associates, which cleared the bridge plans, continue to be in the black list. Based on the preliminary report submitted by the technical committee of noted construction experts, the GHMC had initiated restoration measures on the bridge to make it “functional”.

The engineering wing estimated the cost of repairs up to Rs. 40 lakh.

The bridge being constructed at a cost of Rs. 7 crore was just months away from inauguration when the contractor confessed to cracks surfacing.

Muslim Jung bridge construction goes a long way, almost a decade ago, and it has been beset with contractor problems and properties acquisition.

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