Ircon "Mangalored"!

Letter to The President, KCCI, Mangalore.

Dear Sir,

Sub: Report on Representation at “District Level Road Safety” Meeting on 13/04/2011.

Issues raised on inferior quality of four way lane highway vide letter bearing reference No.: PS/KCCI/001/2011 dated 13/04/2011 Constructed under “New Mangalore Ort Connectivity Project of NHAI by M/s Ircon is taken very seriously and Committee consisting of Senior officials from RTO, Commisionarate of Police, D.K. District Police, M.C.C., PWD and KCCI is formed by the Honable District Commissioner to inspect the poor quality from highway from B.C. Road to Surathkal, and report to District Administration.

In turn, District Administration will take up matter with NHAI based on the contents of report.

NHAI was represented by Mr. P.Geprge Modayil, Team Leader, Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd., Preoject Office: D.No.: 2-2-72/14, Bishop Compound, Yeyyadi, Konchady Post, Mangalore -575008 (phone : 0824-2201010 Fax: 2224011 Cell: 9448058113 E-mail: mangalore@saiindia.com & modayali49@Yahoo.co.in. He was taken aback by all present when started defending the quality of construction by giving absurd explanations.

After, through discussion, it was decided to hold a Joint inspection on, Monday, 18th April 2011. Senior officials nominated by the concerned authorities will meet at Circuit Ho at 10.00 A.M. use, Kadri Hills, Mangalore and then to proceed to B.C. Road to start the task which will terminate at Surathkal. I have taken up the responsibility of preparing the report based on the observations of all concerned in the presence of Mr. Modayil.

The report will be signed by all concerned after completion of inspection. Mr. Modayil will sign as an authorized person from NHAI as proof for existing defects.

My letter No.: PS/KCCI/001/2011 dated 13/04/2011 is attached for your ready reference. It supersedes previous developments, as my complaint now registered with Vigilance Department of NHAI under complaint No.: OTH#313 dated 05/04/2011.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/…


(Praveenchandra Shetty)
Chairman,
Road Safety Sub-Committee, KCCI.
Praveenchandra Shetty
D.M.E. (Auto Tech), A.I.I.S.A.
Surveyor/Loss Assessor (Motor)
311- Kunil Complex,
Bendoorwell, Mangalore – 575 002
Tel: (O) 2437237/Fax: 4271377 Cell: 9845294577
e-mail : surveyorshetty@hotmail.com

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Letter sent on: 07/04/2011

Mr. Subhodh Yadav, IAS
Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada District &
President, D.K.District Level Road Safety Committee,
Mangalore - 575 001.

Respected Sir,

Reg: D.K. District Level Road Safety Committee Meeting-Issues & Suggestions.

We thank you very much for your invitation to participate in this D.K. District Level Road Safety Committee meeting on 07/04/2011 at D. C. Office Hall, Mangalore.

I take this opportunity to bring it to your kind notice the following issues and my suggestions to prevent such occurrences based on the technical study carried out by me in the following issues:

1. Catastrophic Flood at Kodial Gutthu Surrounding:

The said flood was witnessed by the citizen of Mangalore, last year for the first time since last two decades. Torrential rains in the last year poured for almost 6 moths (as against normal 4 moths) caused this flood. Rain water canal is filled with abundant quantity of dumped debris from construction activities throughout its length. This has reduced its capacity to allow free flow of rain water in terms of volume per minute. Hence thorough cleaning of rain water canal running from Anegundi to Bunder (running through Bejai, Kodialbail, Bhojarao Lane, Alake till it joins sea) is warranted.

2. Catastrophic Flood at Lohit Nagar, Kottra Chowki, Malemar & 4th Mile Surrounding:

Water logging at this area is caused due to blockage of free flow of rain water due to construction roads without proper open rain water drain and housing sites in the locality. Free flow of rain water from Lohit Nagar is blocked at Malemar on eastern side of highway, which finds its way to sea via a canal that runs by the side of service road (road connecting Kottra Chowki- Maladi) and crosses N.H.No.: 17 near 4th Mile, to join sea through the canal running by the side of a vacant site (once leveled to construct Mangalore Stock Exchange). Water from eastern side of highway is blocked from entering this canal from Kottra Chowki Junction till culvert at 4th Mile due to conversion of low lying fields into housing sites, raising the ground height by around 2 to 3 feet. Hence free passage to flow of rain water needs to be provided.

3. Damage to Shirady Ghat during monsoon:

During monsoon, surface hardness of road reduces due to entry of rain water molecules into earth. Tractor/Trailers, means a combination of Vehicle Horse and Bullet tank (vehicles manufactures with 6 wheels on chassis coupled with trailer having 8 wheels; i.e. 14 wheels in all); cause irreparable damage to road on curves & hair-pin bends. Since these trailing axles are not fitted with differential unit consisting of crown/pinion/star gears, they drag the soil sideways on the turnings (as direction of horse changes with respect to rear trailer on curves 7 hair pin bends). This remained as the main cause of damage to curves & hair-pin turns in Shirady Ghat and for all ghat sections in our country, for all these years.

Hence, prohibition on movement of Tractor-Trailer (3515/3516 Trailers) having combination of 14 wheels should be implemented during monsoon. Alternatively, Transportation of LPG by bullet tanker built on Multi Axle Trucks (M/A) with 10 Wheels (2515/2516 drive Away chassis) only to be allowed during monsoon.

Tractor–Trailer combination is meant for long hauling on straight stretch of roads on level terrain. They are unsafe (gets detached and ruptures into two parts on curves), dangerous (causes more number of accidents enroute) and



un-suitable (causes more traffic congestions enroute) to be used on Mangalore-Bangalore Road (to be précised between B.C.Road and Hassan). These tractor-trailer vehicles cause extensive loss to NHAI in terms of higher cost of annual road maintenance.

4. Inferior quality of fly-over Bridges at Kuntikan & Kottra Chowki Junctions:

Build quality of both these fly-over bridges are not acceptable in any existing industry standard. Approach ramps and exit landings are very dangerous by way of un-intended concave pockets. Uniform thicknesses of tarred surface within the spans are not maintained. Span edges are at different levels on their adjoining edges. Surface levels of spans are miserably inclined to several directions on a horizontal plane. Tarred surface have inherent defect by means of circular minute ditches. Vehicles bounce up at the entry point, ramble along the bridge between the spans and get pressed down all of a sudden and lift up violently at exit point. M/s Ircon should first learn the technique of road building from M/s L&T or M/s GMR before proceeding with pending construction of fly-over at work Kulur Junction & at Surathkal City. (from the road built by these two companies between Bangalore & Hyderabad).

5. Traffic Circle at K.P.T Junction:

Width of passage around the circle is much smaller than that of approach roads. Passage at circle is inadequate to maneuver two vehicles running side by side simultaneously. Road to Circuit-House from this circle is off-centered. Islands around the circle, between the approach roads are out of shape in totality. This junction does not qualify to be fit for safer use in any manner as poses severe danger to motorists, especially for traffic entering from other cities/towns/states. Hence, this circle need to be corrected as per guidelines of IRC.

6. Surface level of stretch of road between KPT Junction & Padav School Junctions:

Little less than 1.5 Kms. of stretch of road (in North-South direction) is built with three different surface levels. Vehicle bounces upwards thrice on these edges. In fact, this was the easiest stretch to construct without any slope/curve/obstruction. Hence, these defects need to be rectified.

7. White Paint on Lane Marking:

Lane marking along the newly constructed highway is almost disappeared within 3-4 months of use due to poor quality of paint used for the task. As these mark act as indicator to judge the direction of road during night driving; the purpose of same is not served and miserably defeated. Hence, repainting need to be carried out using paint approved by NHAI.

8. Use of round marble pebbles as soling between Maroli & Nathoor:

Use of round marble pebbles reduces force of bonding on the sole of tar road. As heavy vehicles pass through this road, the pebbles slide sideways and give rise to potholes in monsoon. Abundant quantities of pebbles are used in this stretch as against graded sand, to save on cost of construction by compromising on quality and neglecting specifications. Hence, this stretch needs intervention of Chief Vigilance Officer of NHAI.

We request you to kindly look into the matter and oblige.

In anticipation of safer roads, we remain.

Yours sincerely,




(Praveenchandra Shetty)
Chairman, Road Safety Sub-Committee,
KCCI, Mangalore.
CC:
Mr. Seemanth Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police, Mangalore.
Mr. Labhu Ram, Superindent of Police, Dakshina Kannada District.
Mr. K.N.Vijayaprakash, Commissioner, MCC, Mangalore.
Mr. Buluvali, RTO, Mangalore.
Mr. Alok Prasad, Chief Vigilance Officer, NHAI, New Delhi.