Sir,

This refers to H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana’s letter ‘Be warned, Chamundi Hill not a tinkering lab’ in Star of Mysore dated Nov. 8.

Bapu, a retired Chief Engineer and myself have written numerous articles on the failure of roads all over our city. But not a single agency has approached either of us for advice.

Yesterday, we had a long chat on the matter in utter disgust. We concluded with the thought “Nothing but utter lack of sincerity and sense of application of engineering brains are the causes for catastrophic situations all over Mysuru including Chamundi Hill.”

It is neither that the world has never seen such incessant rainfall nor that the roads are failing in such regularity over the world where it rains 8 months in a year. Roads are good in England, Norway and Northern Japan etc. In fact “frost action” in such zones is more dangerous to roads than incessant rains. It is just that lackadaisical approach and deep-rooted money-sharing deals that are causing distress.

If anyone wishes to prove me wrong, please produce copies of slope stability tests, typical cross section, safety of road toe against natural hill slope, test results of soil, compaction, drainage, tests of bituminous layers etc. They are all contained in MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) specifications and every contract BoQ (Bill of Quantities) refers to MoRTH. So, all procedures need to be sacrosanct with MoRTH.

Chamundi Hill has mild/friendly slopes that do not pose any serious challenges. I can say with conviction that the failed stretch lacked engineering thoughts in Design Offices, on the Drawing Board and thus the failure. Being a Design Engineer, I summarise the failure as follows:

1. Toe of the road on the lower side of the Hill slope needs stable support.

2. Such support can be either with a ‘retaining wall’ or by shifting the road alignment towards uphill.

3. In the latter case, ‘benching’ has to be carried out to ensure efficient locking of earthworks.

4. One in 100-year rainfall to be used to design a proper road side drain; especially along the upper side.

5. Ultimately, a properly coordinated contract procedures are imminent where bidders are cautioned of the MoRTH; chapter by chapter, material testing frequency (not concocted) and more importantly, effective supervision.

I learnt that experts from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, were called in. With due respect to them, we (Bapu and myself) prefer to tie-up with them as professionals and provide a lasting solution. Only empowerment of masses to scrutinise works and records will help.

– V.N. Prasad, Design Engineer & Project Management Consultant – Roads (Retd.), Mysuru, 9.11.2021

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