Pooja held ahead of demolishing Palarivattom flyover | Photo: B Muraleekrishnan | Mathrubhumi
Kochi: The demolition works of Palarivattom flyover commenced on Monday morning. The government aims at reconstructing the flyover within 8 months. A pooja was held ahead of commencing the demolition works. The initial works to demolish the flyover started by 9 am.
The flyovers in Kundannoor and Vyttila are already completed. However, transportation is difficult due to the absence of Palarivattom flyover. A review meeting of traffic police will be held on Monday to discuss how to clear the traffic block in the city.
First the tarring will be removed totally and then 15 out of the 17 spans will be cut into pieces. One span is composed of 6 girders. Span is seen in the form of a box between two pillars. Deck slab is concreted above these spans.
Not like Maradu flat demolition
Palarivattom flyover will not be demolished like the Maradu flats. Each girder and the deck slab above it will be cut using diamond cutter. The concrete will be cut into long pieces and then broken into small pieces. This will be converted to granules at the same place.
Not to be used for sea wall
There was a suggestion that the broken girder can be used to build sea wall in Chellanam. However, considering the difficulty to carry it in the lorry, the idea was dropped.
Net to stop dust
In order to reduce dust while breaking the flyover, net curtains will be arranged and the area will be made wet by spraying water. However, it will cause slight difficulties to the public. DMRC and Uralungal Labour Society hope that the public will cooperate.
Plan B
Currently, it has been decided to remove 15 out of the 17 spans and install pre-stressed girders. One span in the middle of the flyover and one at Edappally area are pre-stressed girders, so they will not be changed. However, if any damage is noticed while demolishing, they also will be removed.
Pier caps also to be removed
It has been decided that the current pier caps should be strengthened. If it is not possible, they will also be replaced. Pier cap is a part designed to distribute concentrated loads evenly over the area of the pier.
8 month work, 100 years life
Palarivattom flyover will be reconstructed within 8 months. The time limit allowed is 9 months. Metro Man E Sreedharan has directed the team to work fast, so that it may be complete before this period. He has also assured that the life of the flyover will be 100 years after reconstruction.
G Keshava Chandran in charge
DMRC Chief Engineer G Keshava Chandran is in-charge of the reconstruction of Palarivattom flyover. He is the general manager of the railway overbridge section in the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL). The company has allowed him to work for the project on the request of E Sreedharan. He took charge the other day.
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