KARACHI, Sept 22: The city government's monitoring committee has observed that the Liaquat Flyover has been constructed far below the required workmanship.

The committee was formed by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan to ascertain the causes of the cracks which had developed on the bridge's slab on Aug 3.

The committee, headed by the nazim's adviser for technical affairs Saleem Azhar, included Abid Illyas, Najmi Alam and engineers Misbahuddin Fareed and Noorul Haq as its members.

The report, submitted by the committee to the nazim, stated that the results of cores indicated a poor quality of concrete in deck slab of the bridge and the results were not only below the required strength, but, had a wide variation indicating lack of proper supervision.

It further pointed out that the record keeping of various activities during the flyover's works did not indicate any flaw in its construction, but, it was evident that the concrete was of poor quality.

Describing the bridge as one of the busiest flyovers in the city, the report said that the flyover despite carrying heaviest loads to upcountry from Karachi Port its designed strength and thickness appeared to be inadequate.

It recommended that the portion of the flyover, which is closed for vehicular traffic since Sept 1 for the repair of its deck slab's hole, should be immediately assigned to an expert consultant for detailed investigation/ testing to ensure quality and comprehensive vetting of design.

The expert/consultant should not only ascertain the present state of affairs in the flyover, but should also suggest the remedial measures if any, was required, the report suggested.

Referring to an exercise undertaken by the CDGK's works and services group of offices, it was pointed out that the department had already short-listed consultant to check the existing bridges of the entire city and as such this exercise might be taken up on priority and the project be assigned immediately.

Mentioning that deck slab failure has also appeared in Natha Khan Railway Overpass, the committee emphasized the need for carrying out the exercise of structural stability of all the bridges/ flyovers of the city without any further delay.

However, with regard to Liaquat Flyover, the committee suggested that its work should be awarded immediately without going in to long departmental procedure.

Recalling that the plan for constructing a 1.72km-long flyover for smooth flow of heavy traffic on S.M. Taufiq Road connecting Sohrab Goth to the Karachi Port was approved in 1991, the report stated that the construction work was awarded to M/s National Construction Ltd (NC) in 1994.

M/s Irshad Nabi Associates were the designer of the project while the design was vetted by M/s Umer Munshi Associates, besides M/s Irshad Nabi Associates were also appointed as the supervising consultant, it added.

The report elaborated that M/s National Construction had appointed CMES (Construction Management Engineering Services) as their sub-contractor and majority of (more than 90 per cent) of works was undertaken by the sub-contractor.

The National Construction took more than six years to complete the bridge in April 2001 although it's completion was initially scheduled in 1996. Although the flyover was opened for vehicular traffic in 2001, various portion of the work was still lying incomplete, the report concluded.