08 October 2004	Friday	22 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 7: The city government has not yet succeeded in fixing responsibility with regard to the damage caused to a section of the Liaquatabad flyover last month.

The inquiry committee, constituted by the city nazim, has since submitted its report which states that substandard concrete was used in the portion where a huge crater had developed. However, the report did not point to anyone who could be held responsible for the damage.

Laboratory tests of the samples taken from the core of the affected portion had also suggested that poor quality material had been used, substantiating the earlier report of the committee.

EDO Works & Services Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, when contact, said that the real problem in fixing responsibility was that testing reports, which had been finalized after the construction of the flyover, had been passed.

He maintained that the testing reports confirmed use of quality material and there appeared no evidence intact to put a blame on anyone. When asked whether the matter would be investigated right from the completion of the bridge in 2001, the EDO said though it would be a lengthy process, it might be considered.

Mr Siddiqui said that the city government had also hired services of a consultant firm to carry out structural stability test through a non-detective method and without detaching any core of flyover.

The firm would submit its report within 30 to 45 days stating the quality of material used in the construction of the whole flyover. However, he added, he did not expect that substandard material had been used in other portions of the flyover.

When his attention was drawn to the remaining work under and around the flyover, Mr Siddiqui said that some work had since been undertaken and would be completed by October 15.

Regarding reopening the closed section of the flyover, he said that the repair work might be completed in a few days and the flyover would hopefully be reopened next week. -PPI