On the road to perfection

On the road to perfection
The long term measure to solve the problem is having more stilt roads, roads on storm water drains.








I have gone through the opinion of experts expressed in the series - Concrete Solution? There were a lot of issues that really impressed me. By and large experts have given full marks for the technology. However some of them have criticised it referring to the underpass constructed at the Cauvery junction. But they are not against adopting the technology.

I agree the underpass at the Cauvery junction should have been wider. There is always a scope to learn from the past experience. We have increased the width of the underpass at BDA junction to 5.5 m. Similarly, we are making all efforts to improve the technology as we move on to other junctions.

I never said precast technology is the only solution to solve the traffic problems of Bangalore City. All roads in the city are not wide or good enough to accommodate the increasing vehicular population. Palike looked at precast technology as one of the solutions.

The long term measure to solve the problem is having more stilt roads, roads on storm water drains. I have been saying that underpasses using precast technology is a short-term measure. It is cost-effective and time saving. Many experts who contributed to the series agreed with this.

Even though the underpass at the Cauvery junction was completed in 33 days it is a record. The underpass at the Cauvery junction received lot of criticism, yet lakhs of vehicles have passed through it since it was opened and fuel worth crores has been saved. I don’t say what Palike has done is perfect. It is unrealistic to expect perfection at the first step itself. It is just an initiative.


For the first time in India

Precast technology is not new. But it was used for the first time for underpasses in Bangalore, claims BBMP. Palike officers are contemplating patenting their innovative experiment. Deccan Herald interacted with Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K S Krishna Reddy and posed him some questions that were raised by experts and readers during the course of the series.

DH: There is an opinion among experts that cost would not be less in precast method as requirement of steel and concrete is same both in conventional and precast method.

Krishna Reddy: That is not true. In precast method we need not lay foundation. Moreover for precast elements we don’t use high quality steel. Whereas in the conventional method protective walls are also constructed using concrete. That demands too much concrete and steel. But in precast method we adopt soil nailing for protective walls. Because of these factors a considerable amount of money is saved.


DH: What precautionary measures were taken before placing precast elements?

Krishna Reddy: Before elements are cast concrete samples are tested to check the quality. It will be followed by non destructive test (NDT) to check the strength of elements. One more advantage of this technology is that if any element develop cracks over a period of time it can be replaced. However in the conventional method repairing the structure is not easy.

DH: Will precast technology be adopted in all future underpasses?

Krishna Reddy: Palike has decided to take up construction of some underpasses at busy junctions using precast technology. However it depends on quality of soil, terrain a