What code did you use to build flyovers, HC questions Palike

The Karnataka High Court has asked the BBMP to provide construction codes used to build flyovers in the city such as vertical clearance and gradient.

Hearing a petition on building of the Sivananda flyover, a division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar sought the details in the next hearing to make a decision on the matter.

The BBMP council argued before the bench that flyovers in Bengaluru do not need 5.5 m vertical clearance since such an elevation is necessary only in places where there are more freight movement and double-decker buses in operation.

Reiterating that the Indian Road Congress guidelines are not mandatory, the council said the construction of the Sivananda flyover would have been aborted if there were safety issues.

"We are trying our best to follow the IRC guidelines, but it is extremely difficult to follow them in the existing conditions," the council said.

The bench enquired if other flyovers in the city are built using a similar construction code or what kind of guideline was followed in constructing them.

The council responded, saying it does not have details like vertical clearance and gradient of the flyovers in the city.

"We need the details to decide the matter," the bench  reiterated.

Justice Ramesh said the bench would like to conclude the case in the next hearing and adjourned it till Monday.