Bengaluru: The BBMP chief engineer (major roads), S Somshekhar, has requested the Additional Police commissioner (Traffic) to stop movement of heavy vehicles over Varthur bridge for a month until the repair works are over.
On Wednesday, R.K. Jaigopal, member, bridge specification and standards, had written a letter to BBMP chief engineer asking for restricting the entry of the heavy vehicles (especially trucks above 30 tonnes). The bridge is currently catering to large number of heavy trucks.
The letter stated, "Vertical cracks observed around 0.80mm in width at mid-spans of all girders emanating from deck slab reaching up to the level of main reinforcement at bottom of width. Also, many cracks observed in flexure and shear zone. The reinforcement is resisting the further extension of a crack. However, large honey combs noticed at the bottom of the girder. This phenomenon will have negative impact on steel concrete bond.”
Jaigopal's letter further apprised that the non-destructive testing of the bridge has been completed and the samples collected from the bridge are proposed for lab analysis after which the report will be finalised.
Based on the meeting of members of Whitefield Rising with BBMP engineers, it has been established that the BBMP has agreed for a periodical assessment of the bridge, and Palike will issue a press statement on the steps taken. The bridge was built in 2001 and BBMP is its custodian.
