Kozhikode KSRTC terminal: panel submits interim report on structural defects

The five-member committee to review the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) report on structural flaws in the construction of the KSRTC bus terminal shopping complex here has requested more time to submit a report final, including recommendations for further action.

He submitted an interim report explaining the technical problems associated with the construction of the complex. He also requested clarification on the report presented by P. Alagusundaramoorthy, Professor, Structural Engineering, IIT-M. The report stated that the pillars of the multi-story twin tower complex were structurally weak and needed immediate reinforcement. A conclusive report could not be submitted until after that, sources said.

The Mavoor Road terminal was built six years ago at a cost of 74.63 crore. The structure built by Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) was inaugurated on June 1, 2015. The first tower has 10 floors, while the second has 11 floors, including a parking space.

The committee, formed by the Ministry of Transport in the last week of October, was invited to submit its recommendations on the rehabilitation of the building within two weeks. However, one of the members, Professor Nirjhar Dhang, Head of Civil Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur, was unable to reach Kozhikode. Therefore, videos and photographs of the terminal had to be sent to him. In addition, an online meeting was organized to assess the IIT-M report.

Other panel members were Chief Technical Examiner S. Harikumar (moderator), TM Madhavan Pillai, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology-Calicut; L. Beena, Chief Engineer (Buildings) Department of Public Works, and KR Bindu, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram.

Meanwhile, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has yet to vote on a preliminary report submitted by its Kozhikode unit to address a case of irregularities in the construction of the complex.

Vigilance sources said the complex was built without the prior approval of the Kozhikode Corporation. A request for a construction plan was not submitted until after construction was completed.