Kochi: The investigation by the Vigilance and anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) into the Palarivattom flyover scam entered the final phase with the sleuths on Tuesday collecting samples from the bridge.
A team led by Inspector-General H. Venkatesh reached the spot in the morning and the exercise lasted for nearly an hour.
“We collected concrete samples from the bridge portions having no iron rods. The same will be sent to the laboratory to find out the quantity of raw materials used,” said a VACB official.
The Vigilance had registered an FIR earlier last month after a preliminary probe revealed “serious construction discrepancies” in the flyover construction.
An IIT report too revealed ‘compromises’ in both the quantity of raw materials used and the quality that resulted in formation of cracks in girders and piers.
“The test results of samples are expected to be the main evidence in the case. We’d earlier probed the technical deficiencies in the bridge construction with the help of engineering experts. A detailed report will be prepared and submitted to the court soon,” the official added.
Earlier, the agency named 17 officials of the implementing agency Roads and Bridges Dev-elopment Corporation of Kerala, design consultant Kitco and contractor RDS Project Ltd in the FIR. It also conducted raids and seized vital documents from the offices of the government agencies and the contractor.
The flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs 46 crore, has been closed for traffic from May 1. It had developed potholes and the surface became uneven within months of its opening in October 2016.
