Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit Monday played down 18 cracks in pillars revealed during the Delhi Metro’s structural audits, saying that minor cracks did not imply that the structures were faulty.
According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials, 18 cracks were found on pillars built for the Metro’s phase II. The company, however, held that there was “no need for panic”.

“These are minor cracks in the structure. Small cracks do not imply that the entire structure is faulty,” Dikshit told reporters here.

The DMRC has begun re-check of all the piers of the Metro’s 190 km-long phase II, after the July 12 accident that killed six people when an under-construction elevated rail track collapsed in south Delhi.

Independent consultant Shirish Patel and Associates were appointed to conduct the structural audits on all constructions after speculation that cracks in the pillars had caused the mishap.

DMRC managing director E. Sreedharan had asked Metro engineers to inspect all the pillars and cantilevers built for new lines for any cracks.

“They found hairline cracks on eight piers of the Central Secretariat to Gurgaon corridor, two piers of the Noida corridor and eight piers of the Central Secretariat to Badarpur corridor. All appear to be superficial in nature,” DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

Dayal also informed newsmen that Sreedharan has asked the consultants to re-assess the design of the 18 points in detail besides the overall checking of phase-II structures.

“DMRC will carry out further corrective action if required and take necessary remedial measures after Shirish Patel and Associates have examined these locations,” Dayal added.

While residents in Noida have expressed fear that DMRC is in a hurry to conduct trial runs on the nearly finished stretch, the company said that surface cracks in concrete structures are not uncommon and trials are likely to continue along with the investigation.

“There is no need for panic in the matter. In fact, Indian standard codes for design of reinforced concrete structures allows and permits tension cracks within limits,” a DMRC statement said.

For further investigation, ultrasonic and rebound hammer testing will be carried out to check the integrity and quality of the concrete.

“DMRC will get load testing done wherever considered necessary,” Dayal said.

“Similar testing was done during phase I of the construction also as a precautionary measure whenever required.”

Meanwhile, the DMRC is expected to make public the report about the July 12 accident at a press conference Sreedharan is to hold Tuesday.

An expert committee led by Indian Institute for Technology’s (IIT) A.K. Nagpal prepared and submitted the report last week which delved into design or construction material inefficiency as the cause for the mishap, said to be the worst in Delhi Metro history.