The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed that the Peenya Elevated Flyover on National Highway-4, officially known as the Dr. Sri Shivakumara Swamiji Flyover, is structurally safe and fit for vehicular movement following the successful completion of a comprehensive load-bearing test conducted after recent cable repair works.

The flyover, one of Bengaluru’s busiest stretches, has undergone repeated repair and maintenance works since 2021, particularly involving the replacement and strengthening of cables. During each phase of repair, the elevated flyover was closed to traffic, resulting in severe congestion and bumper-to-bumper traffic on the roads below the flyover, especially along the Peenya, Jalahalli and Dasarahalli stretches.

To assess the effectiveness of the latest repair works and verify the structure’s safety, NHAI carried out an extensive load test between May 5 and May 8. The testing was conducted under the supervision of a technical committee and in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).

Results found to be positive

According to officials, the objective of the test was to evaluate the flyover’s load-carrying capacity, structural integrity, stability and overall performance under simulated traffic loading conditions. The results were found to be positive, confirming that the repaired structure meets all required safety standards and is suitable for smooth traffic movement.

“After major repair and strengthening works, it is essential to verify that the structure is safe, stable and capable of carrying the intended traffic loads. Following the successful completion of cable repair works on the linear elevated flyover on NH-4, NHAI conducted a comprehensive load test to assess the structural performance of the flyover,” an official told The Hindu.

As part of the testing programme, heavily loaded trucks were strategically stationed at critical locations on the flyover to simulate maximum traffic loading conditions and generate the highest expected structural stresses. Engineers used advanced monitoring instruments, including deflection sensors, strain gauges, load cells and data acquisition systems, to continuously record the structure’s response during the test, according to officials.

The NHAI official said, “These highly sensitive instruments measured key structural parameters such as stress, strain, deflection, vibration and overall structural movement. During the static load test, the loaded vehicles remained stationary at designated positions while engineers closely monitored the flyover’s behaviour under load.”

Analysed data

The collected data was subsequently analysed and compared with permissible limits specified under relevant IRC standards. Officials stated that all observed readings remained within acceptable limits, confirming that the repaired sections satisfy the required safety and performance criteria.

The load-testing programme covered two repaired spans of the flyover. NHAI has indicated that similar tests will be conducted on the remaining repaired spans, including sections measuring 34.5 metres and 37.5 metres in length, to further verify their structural adequacy and load-carrying capacity before completion of the overall strengthening programme.