Crack in Ejipura Flyover Segment Halts Construction Amid Safety Concerns

Construction on the much-awaited Ejipura flyover in Bengaluru has come to a standstill after cracks appeared in one of the precast segments. Installed four years ago, the segment has started to show significant wear, with cement and gravel dislodging from the structure, raising serious safety concerns. This has led to a halt in work for over a week, further delaying the project that has already seen multiple setbacks.

The Ejipura flyover is part of the elevated corridor project on the Koramangala Outer Ring Road, situated near Ejipura, an area known for its high traffic volumes and significant commuter strain. The construction work on this flyover initially began in 2017 under the supervision of Simplex Infrastructure. The project was slated to be completed by 2019, but the timeline has been repeatedly pushed back due to various issues, including delays in construction and changes in contractors.

In 2022, the Karnataka High Court cancelled the contract of the original contractor, Simplex Infrastructure, due to the prolonged delays and inability to meet project deadlines. Following this, the remaining work was handed over to BSCPL Infrastructure, which resumed construction only two months ago, breathing new life into the project. However, this new momentum has now been halted by the latest setback involving the cracked precast segment.

The flyover was to be built using 69 precast segments, of which 11 segments were installed by the new contractor, BSCPL Infrastructure. However, during the installation process, one segment began to crack, with cement and gravel dislodging from the structure. This discovery prompted an immediate halt in construction work, as safety concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the flyover. The halted work has left the project at risk of further delays, frustrating local residents and commuters who were already experiencing the negative impact of the ongoing construction.

Experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) were called in to investigate the issue. A team led by Professor J.M. Chandra Kishan from the Department of Civil Engineering conducted an inspection of the cracked segment and recommended that it be removed and replaced immediately. They also suggested a thorough strength evaluation of the remaining segments before any further work could proceed.

Local residents and commuters are becoming increasingly frustrated with the continual delays. Rajamohan, a local resident, expressed his frustration by saying, “For four years, we’ve endured construction delays and constant traffic congestion. The work was finally picking up speed in the last two months, and now it’s halted again due to this issue. We’re the ones suffering daily in the gridlock.”

The situation has become especially difficult for those who rely on the road for their daily commute. The flyover was expected to alleviate traffic congestion, but its unfinished status has only added to the burden of local residents. As construction on the flyover remains suspended, the road continues to experience heavy traffic, with commuters facing delays that have only worsened in the past week.

BSCPL Infrastructure, the new contractor in charge of the project, has expressed its intention to resume work as soon as the recommendations of the IISc experts are implemented. The company is expected to remove the cracked segment and replace it with a new one, following which a full evaluation of the remaining segments will be conducted to ensure the structural integrity of the entire flyover.

Once the strength evaluation is completed, BSCPL Infrastructure plans to continue the installation of the remaining segments and work towards completing the project. However, the additional evaluations and repairs are expected to extend the project timeline, pushing the expected completion date even further beyond the original target of 2019.

The delay in the completion of the Ejipura flyover project highlights the challenges faced in large infrastructure projects in Bengaluru. While the city’s rapid growth has led to an increased demand for improved transport infrastructure, the pace of construction has often been slow, and the frequent delays in projects like this one reflect the underlying difficulties in managing such large-scale undertakings.

As BSCPL Infrastructure works to address the current issue, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has assured that the government is committed to completing the project as quickly as possible. However, the ongoing delays have made it clear that more attention is needed to ensure that similar issues are avoided in future infrastructure projects.

The safety concerns raised by the cracked segment underscore the need for stringent quality checks and regular monitoring of ongoing projects to ensure that such setbacks do not compromise the integrity of the city’s infrastructure. As the situation develops, local residents and commuters are hoping for a swift resolution that will allow the flyover to be completed and ease the traffic woes that have plagued the area for years.