State approval to bridge design made mandatory in Gujarat

Surat, 5 September 2014

Surat Municipal Corporation(SMC) has suspended all construction works being executed on Mumbai based design consultant SN Bhobe’s designs.

Bhobe’s designs will be first sent for approval of Gandhinagar based Central Design circle(under public works department) and then only they will be executed on ground. This because, after Surat bridge collapse, the state government has taken a decision to check design of each bridge be it being constructed by Panchayat or Nagarpalika or Municipal Corporation in Gandhinagar.

These details were shared by Surat Municipal Commissioner Shri Milind Torvane.

He said the high power committee appointed to probe under construction Athva lines bridge approach slab collapse has found Bhobe’s designs faulty.

Presently, Cable stayed bridge, Delhi gate fly over bridge and Athva fly over bridg projects are being executed by Bhobe. These works are suspended.

Torvane said the SMC will take action against Bhobe in near future. He will be given notice and his payment will be stopped. He will face penalty and will be black listed for five years. Bhobe is already facing a police case as his name has been mentioned in police complaint.

Ten laborers were dead and six were injured due to collapse of approach slab of under construction Surat flyover on 10 June. The state government has formed a committee of Urban development department additional chief secretary GR Aloria.

Aloria probed the incident with the help of Civil engineers, structural engineers and forenic experts in his team. Ahmedabad based Chief Engineer of Housing Board AK Patel, Gandhinagar FSL Director Dahia, Gandhinagar Design Circle’s Supr Enginer SK Patel, GERI’s Assistant Research Officer DI Gandhi were also part of the high power committee formed to probe the incident.

A 231-page probe report has given clean chit to Rachna construction, a decision which opposition Congress party has opposed.

The report mentions details on who should face action and what types of care should be taken in future.

The report clearly concludes that Bhobe’s design was for straight span, while on the ground the bridge had 90 degree turn.

Probe report has found that curved span 14 and 15 collapsed due to their own weight, after staging/framework was removed. Bearing design’s reaction forces calculations were not correct.Though it was a curved span, the calculations were as per a 35-meter straight span. With proper bearing and stable geometry for curved span the span could be stabilized. As span 14 and 15 were curved, the inside portion was suffering uplift force. Putting anti-uplift bearing was one remedy, but it was not applied. Design consultant’s design was not proof checked and therefore no correction was made to its faults. Flyover’s span 14 and 15 need redesign for stability.

Probe report has suggested proof checking of flyover for correction of any possible fault. Load tests are suggested on site in connection with NDT and proof checking results to get clear idea about span’s capacity.

The report suggests that in future whenever a curved span super structure fly over is planned, the authority should demand stability calculations from designer for safety, strength and stability.

The report also recommends that existing curve span projects and even in future projects, anti uplifting bearing provision has to be there in super structure project. In earthquake-danger areas pin earthquake resistant pin bearing has to be there.

The report suggests that proof checking is must for correction in design if there’s any fault.

Report suggests action against not only Bhobe, but also SMC official who was responsible for monitoring of construction. SMC has taken a decision to appoint departmental probe officer for departmental action against SMC’s technical staff. Police complaint in this regard mentions Bridge cell’s supr engineer BK Gadhia, Dikshit and Akbari. They are likely to face departmental probe. Other officials are likely to be added to this list if they are found guilty.

In another development, the Gujarat High Court didn’t offer any relief to engineers, contractors, designers who approached court to get anticipatory bail. SN Bhobe’s main designer Ashatai Patil wanted relief as she is woman, but high court observed that she was expert in her field, and can’t be given relief just because she’s a woman. The court ordered release of SMC deputy engineer Dikshit who was already arrested in this case.