KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), the implementing agency of East-West Metro, has started fixing steel props to avoid further deterioration of the crack-ridden buildings in Bowbazar’s Madan Dutta Lane, officials of the agency said.
The agency is also grouting its foundation, in an effort to prevent future tilt because of subsidence.
However, a number of the engineers working on the East-West Metro project and other Metro tunnelling projects have stated that such precautions should have been taken before beginning to build the “cross passageways” that connect the two tunnels.
In order to pump concrete mix under the foundations of certain houses that were cracked first shown on the 14th of October morning due to subsidence caused by Metro work, pumps with lengthy hose pipes were set up on the 17th of October in the narrow road.
Senior officials stated that the foundation’s grouted concrete mix would fill in any gaps beneath the structures and stop the soil beneath them from sliding further. This will guarantee that the structures don’t get any additional cracks.
“We want to repair some of the buildings in Madan Dutta Lane where minor cracks have appeared and ensure the residents return home at the earliest,” said N.C. Karmali, director, projects, KMRC.
“A team of consultants has already assessed the condition of the affected buildings. After repairs, we plan to invite them to revisit the buildings and identify those where residents can return.”
“Since two similar disasters had taken place in the area since 2019, the authorities should have taken additional precautions. They should have fixed props for the old buildings before starting work on cross passages,” said an engineer involved in the project on another stretch.
A team of experts from Stup, a consulting agency, has assessed over 10 buildings where cracks appeared on Friday, said a KMRC official. “There was no deliberate delay after the cave-in.”
The KMRC has said it would pay Rs 5 lakh each to the house owners who cannot return home within 30 days from Friday. The affected shop owners whose establishments measure less than 100sq ft will receive Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation. The ones with establishments measuring above 100sq ft are entitled to Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
“Work inside the Metro tunnel cannot be put on hold for long. We want to start it as soon as the shifting of loose soil stops and the area has completely stabilised,” said a KMRC official.
