Madurai: The day after part of Madurai-Natham Highway Flyover collapsed killing a worker, Minister of PWD E V Velu, who examined the area, said the accident occurred due to the negligence of the contractor.
Only two workers carry out work and there are no engineers who are present in place to supervise and ensure security, he said.
Minister of Velu and Finance Minister P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan examined the place along with the Madurai District collector S Aneesh Sekhar on Sunday morning.
A Akash Singh guest worker, 24, from Uttar Pradesh died in Mishap on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the minister said the team of experts from the National Institute of Technology-Trichy would check the place and study the incidence and aspects of safety in the construction of the flyover.
Based on reports submitted to the collector, the appropriate action will be taken, he said.
Asked about what actions to be taken by the state government, Velu said even though it was a project carried out by the center through NHAI, it was being held for the Tamil Nadu people.
“The center and state government must work together in certain areas.
It is the task of the state government to ensure the safety of the people,” he said.
Based on reports submitted by experts, the right actions will be taken by the state government, the Minister said.
He said the type of such elite work was done with modern technology where the pillar would be established here and Girder which is a concrete block of precast it will be brought and placed between pillars.
The job putting a girder between the pillar will be done using a hydraulic jack.
Describe the process, the Velu Minister said, “There are several types of hydraulic jacks that can withstand weight of 50 tons and more.
Girder used for construction here has a weight of around 120 tons and is safer to use hydraulic jacks that can accommodate as much as 200 tons.
“He said the accident occurred when the oil thread that connected the hydraulic jack was cut off.
“This can happen because two reasons – Jack may not have the capacity to withstand the pressure of girder or oil thread used can be cracked because it might be obsolete,” Velu said.
The minister said the security aspects can only be ascertained by those at the level of engineers and workers won’t know this detail.
There are no engineers, however, are present in a place while the work is being carried out.
The contractor has signed an agreement with a company based in Jaipur to see aspects of safety.
The company’s representative is not present at the location to ensure security, he said.
Based on the complaint of the Nhai A team leader Anilkumar, Talakulam police on Saturday enrolled a case against Pradeepkumar Jain, Santiyenthar Varma, Baskar and other supervisors.
They have been ordered under the IPC 304 (A) section (causing death from negligence) and 287 (negligent behavior in connection with the machine).