IIT teams assess foundation integrity in Amaravati secretariat buildings

Andhra Pradesh: The IIT Chennai team has begun an in-depth inspection of the raft foundation at the Secretariat HOD Towers in Amaravati, a crucial move as the High Court is scheduled to review the construction site this afternoon. The raft foundation has been submerged in water for the past five years, raising concerns about its structural integrity. The IIT team, led by structural engineer Mehar Prasad, will conduct an in-depth scientific assessment of the foundation to determine its progress and structural strength. Prasad is accompanied by corrosion expert Radhakrishna Pillai and soil and foundation dynamics expert Subhadeep Banerjee. They will use a specially arranged boat under the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to effectively reach the site. It is reported that several construction projects started before 2019 are either incomplete or have been stalled, leaving some foundations half-finished. The government has entrusted IIT Madras with the crucial responsibility of assessing the foundations of the secretariat, department heads’ towers and the high court buildings, all of which have been delayed. Meanwhile, the IIT Hyderabad team has been tasked with assessing the quality of IAS officers’ residences and housing for ministers, MLAs and MLCs in Amaravati. They are set to conduct a two-day inspection to evaluate the quality and efficiency of the buildings. As the capital of the newly-formed state of Navandhra, Amaravati is gearing up for a significant structural revamp with plans for the development of the new city. The government has resolved to retain the existing framework of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) to facilitate the ongoing construction efforts.