REASONS FOR DOING MICRO PILING AND NAILING WORK

The construction of new PuttannaKanagal theatre and multi-level

parking facilities at Jayanagar 4th block, Bangalore consist of 4 blocks
ie., Block-1,2,3 & 4. The site is situated in centre of commercial area
with high density of vehicular traffic and also pedestrian.

The

construction of Block-1 was taken up in first face by dismantling of

existing

old

PuttannaKanagal

theatre

building

and

it

is

rehabilitation block for the existing vegetable market, Janata Bazar

&Canara

Bank.

The proposed Block-1 building having Lower

basement, Upper basement, Ground & 6 floors.The Block-1 has got

the following constraints.
a. On the Northern side existing Tower block comprising Ground
floor and 12 floors.
b. On the Eastern & North western part existing building
comprising Ground floor & 2 floors.
c. On the Southern & Western side having high density traffic road
for 24 hours.
d. The depth of excavation for block-1 all-round the building is
11mt with vertical cutting and the working area is constrained.
During excavation, it is observed that the existing tower block on
Northern side has independent footings below 1.50mt from floor
level. The excavation line of Block-1 on Northern side was 4.00mt
from the existing tower block.

The block-1 excavation depth was

11.00mt from the ground level and the level of lower basement will
be 8.00mt down from the existing tower block floor level.

On

Eastern side, there exists a 3 storyed building and the distance

between the Block-1 foundation line & 3 storyed building is 2.00mt
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only. Similarly on the westeren side of Block-1, there is another 3

storyed building. The existing building line on the edge of the Block1 foundation line. That means there is no space between the new
building line (of Block 1) and the adjacent 3 storyed building. On
Southern side & part of Western side is having the main road with
high density traffic flow in 24 hours and the foundation line of the
Block-1 is on the boundary line of the road.
The above points were discussed with the then Engineer Member,
BDA and he advised to take a technical opinion from Professor.
B.R.S.Murthy regarding the safety precautions for existing tower
block, since the foundations for the proposed Block-1 & 2 is going
deeper and excavation may be required to be done upto 10 to
13.00mt from the ground level of the existing tower block.
As requested by BDA officials, Pro. Dr.B.R.Srinivasa Murthy from
Indian Institute of Science visited the site on 07.11.2012 &
01.12.2012. Professor, B.R.S.Murthy gave the technical reasoning
that in the ground, as there is no space between the existing tower
block and the foundation line of the proposed new block, the new
retaining wall construction along the boundary will not serve the
purpose and the load distribution factor for existing tower will satisfy
only if the foundations (Earth) below the existing tower are
strengthened and stabilized locally. The angle of repose arising out
of existing tower will fall within the foundation line of the new
proposed blocks and may result in tilting and collapse of existing
tower. For doing the strengthening and stabilizing of the soil below

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the existing tower block, the method of Micro Piling with nailing
work upto a depth of 10-12 mtrs is essential on both directions.
During the execution of nailing work, the excavation was done in
1.00mt depth in each stage and necessary shoring and strutting was
carried out against earth collapse at that point of time during the
course of excavation.
The above statement clearly states that the micro piling and nailing
work was not done for the safety of excavation or execution. It is
done purely for permanent protection of the existing tower block &
heavy traffic road and entirely on technical grounds as suggested by
Prof. B.R. Srinivas Murthy.
While doing excavation for micro piling and nailing works, the
payment for the work of shoring and strutting which was done
during stage wise excavation, were not paid because it is included in
the earth work excavation item.
The Micro piling and nailing is a specialized work, done after
discovery of the foundation level of the existing tower. At the time of
estimation and tender the foundation level of the nearby structure
was not known either to BDA officials or to the contractor. Hence it is
not right to expect contractor to imagine micro piling and nailing at
the time of tender. It is work arising as per the site condition
discovered after the award of work. Hence it is clearly constitute as
extra item and regulated accordingly.

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In view of the above facts and reasons, we request you

kindly consider the above facts and drop your observations
made vide Para No.5 of Audit Enquiry No.10, Dtd.20 th
Dec2013.

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