The official added that most of the cracks were minor settlement cracks and less than 5mm in width. A settlement crack is one that may occur owing to the decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the soil on which the building stands
Two commercial buildings on Prakasam Salai in George Town had developed cracks in early March and were evacuated on precautionary grounds. The officials said that one building was repaired subsequently and work on the other began in mid-March.
Before tunnelling operations began, an existing building survey was carried out that indicated the old cracks and vulnerability of every building. The building is also checked with instruments including a crack meter, tilt meter and ground settlement meter.
