Gurgaon: Cracks have appeared on the U-turn flyover at IFFCO Chowk, which is around 40metres long, triggering safety concerns among commuters. According to an official from the National highways Authority of India, damage was detected on the longitudinal expansion joints(joints that allow the concrete to naturally expand and contract without cracking) of the four-lane elevated structure.The U-turn flyover witnesses traffic headed from MG Road to Sukhrali and sectors 17 and 18. In some spots, around 6-inch-wide gaps have come up.Last month, a portion of the unidirectional flyover at IFFCO Chowk that runs parallel to the elevated section of Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway developed similar cracks on longitudinal joints. NHAI filled the cracks with bitumen and barricaded the area as a stopgap arrangement, and an expert committee was set up to look into the matter and suggest ways to carry out repairs.An NHAI official on Wednesday said that they will now be redesigning the expansion joints. The U-turn flyover has two separate structures which are joined longitudinally. These expansion joints generally open up due to weather conditions and movement of high-speed vehicles. The four-lane U-turn elevated structure was developed on two separate slabs. This is a continuous repair process as the expansion joints tend to shrink during winter and expand in summer. We have received the recommendation of the expert committee. Based on their suggestions, we are redesigning the expansion joints. There is no issue with the stability of the structure whatsoever, said Mohammad Safi, NHAI regional officer.Asked about the barricading the damaged portion, the NHAI official said he will get it checked and the needful work will be carried out. Despite the cracks on the U-turn flyover, no barricades have been installed to alert commuters. I have to remain alert while driving on the flyover at night in particular as there is a risk of accidents. The authorities should repair it immediately, a commuter headed towards Sukhrali said.This is extremely risky for commuters, as two-wheelers can get stuck in the gap and the riders can easily lose their balance. The area should be immediately cordoned off to alert the commuters about the damage, which could lead to a fatal accident, said Anurag Kulshrestha, the founder of TRAX, an NGO dealing with road safety.The highway authority has developed three flyovers at IFFCO Chowk to decongest this busy junction and ensure smooth traffic flow. The U-turn flyover has a span of 258 metres, while its total length is around 660 metres. It was opened to the public in 2019.

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