Test blast in Supertech twin towers on April 10
NOIDA: A test blast for the demolition of the 32-storeyed Supertech twin towers — Apex and Ceyane — in Noida will be conducted at 2.30pm on April 10, officials of demolition contractor Edifice Engineering said Wednesday.
A test blast is required to determine the quality of concrete so that the exact quantity of explosives for the final blast can be ascertained, they said
Officials of the demolition contractor and Noida police, who will make security arrangements during the test blast, decided the timing on Wednesday.
“The trial will help ascertain the kind and quantity of explosives we will need for the final demolition. For example, we will know how much concrete will be displaced by one kilogram of explosive. We have discussed with the police that the area will be cordoned off and only 10 people from Edifice and Jet (South African partner firm) will be allowed within the premises, along with some policemen. We will also issue some precautionary measures for the neighbouring buildings and tell residents to stay indoors,” said Uttkarsh Mehta, partner, Edifice Engineering. He added that the road near the buildings will be completely cordoned off for a little while--the timing of which is yet tobe decided. However, there will not be any dust cloud or noise louder than that of a firecracker.
Officials said the explosives will be procured from Solar Industries India Limited, a Nagpur company. The explosives will be kept in a locked magazine in Palwal (Haryana) from where they will be transported to the site on the morning of April 10. Less than 10kg of explosives will be required for the test blast, officials added.
The joint chief controller of explosives, VK Mishra, from Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO), Agra, also visited the site on Wednesday.
“PESO will provide its technical inputs and suggestions related to the explosives to the police so that they can take the final call on the arrangements. They have asked for some data that we will be providing after conducting the test blast,” added Mehta.
Officials had earlier said that for the test, five columns — four in the basement and one on the 14th floor — will be blasted. Shock tubes that consist of 80 grams of explosive powder per metre will be used. These tubes will be filled in holes that are being drilled into the columns, officials added.
Both towers are to be completely demolished on May 22 in accordance with the Supreme Court’s February 7 orders, which state that realtor Supertech Limited and demolition contractor Edifice Engineering implement the apex court’s August 31, 2021 order to demolish the two buildings in Supertech Emerald Court, which were constructed in total violation of building bylaws, without further delay.
Edifice Engineering submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment to the UP Pollution Control Board last month, stating that an area within one kilometre of the demolition site that may be affected by a dust cloud after the demolition.
The trial will help ascertain the kind and quantity of explosives we will need for the final demolition. UTTKARSH MEHTA, partner, Edifice Engineering