Kochi: An elaborate inspection of the foundation of pillar number 347 of the Kochi Metro will be carried out soon, said officials at Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which operates the service.
A tilt was earlier detected on the track above this pillar, located at Pathadipalam near Edappally, and preliminary checks of the track and viaduct had found no defects.
According to KMRL officials, advanced equipment would be needed to examine the foundation. “Some shift has happened to the base of pillar 347. We want to find out whether this occurred due to the change in soil type at the spot,” they said.
The officials added that Metro services will not be affected by the development. “Trains are already passing at a reduced speed over the pillar as a precautionary measure,” they pointed out.
KMRL has informed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which was in charge of the construction of this section of Kochi Metro, of the tilt. However, the DMRC is yet to respond. During the construction stage, the foundation of each Metro pillar had been designed separately depending on the type of soil at the spot.
Sreedharan’s reaction
‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan, who had guided the Kochi Metro during its early phase, said that only a site inspection could reveal the reasons for the tilt. “I learnt about the tilt on the Metro track from a report in Malayala Manorama newspaper. Neither the KMRL nor DMRC has informed me about the developments,” he said.
“But as the trains are passing above the pillar, the defect doesn’t seem to pose any danger,” he added.
According to the legendary engineer, if the tilt is caused by corrosion on a bearing or any other mechanical part, it could be easily rectified. “However, in case the type of soil at the base has changed following floods, it can be confirmed by site inspection only,” he said.
