CMDA seeks Anna University expertise to undertake quality checks on Manjambakkam Truck Terminal

C Shivakumar
 Chennai:
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has sought the expertise of
Anna University in investigating alleged irregularities  committed in
the construction of Rs 20 crore Manjambakkam truck terminal.

A CMDA official told Express that they have sought the expertise of
Anna University to undertake quality checks on newly inaugurated
Manjambakkam truck terminal after a junior engineer of CMDA alleged
irregularities in the truck terminal built on 12 acres of land to
accommodate to 400 container trucks.

Interestingly, the official said that Anna University had already
vetted the design of the project and they had no issues over it.

Junior engineer Gnanarathinam, who has over 15 years experience, shot
out a letter to the member secretary of Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority last month alleging  poor quality of the work
being done on Manjambakkam Container Truck Terminal.

It is alleged that site for the truck terminal was seven feet below
the road. As a result, engineers working on the project planned to
level the site. The initial plan was to use gravel, which could help
bear the heavy load of container trucks, to build the container truck
terminal.

But it was alleged that the engineers instead of gravel used earth.
Gravel costs Rs 500 per metre cube while earth costs Rs 200 per metre
cube.

Gnanarathinam when contacted by Express was non-commital about the
contents in the letter but stood by his allegations stating that the
arch being built at Manjambakkam is unsafe.

In the letter, Gnanaratinam has stated that, “I have committed many
mistakes while working under executive engineer Srinivasa Rao and
superintendent engineer Om Narayanan. I feel guilty. I have now turned
approver.”

However, one of those who have been accused by Gnanarathinam, have
termed the allegations as false. “Let the government conduct an
enquiry and find out the facts,” he said.