The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), on Wednesday suggested to the Bombay high court that it would carry out hammering on the road near the Varshna cooperative housing society, with a vibrohammer to check if the cracks in the building had indeed occurred due to the construction work of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro rail corridor.

In August last year the high court had appointed IIT to carry out an independent structural audit of the building that had developed cracks, reportedly due to the vibrohammer used in the construction.

Gautam Niwas and some other buildings, part of Varshna Co-Operative Housing Society, had moved the High Court in June 2010 requesting that an independent agency conduct the structural audit, as the earlier firm — Structwel Designers & Consultants — had been blacklisted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The high court had, accordingly, directed the IIT to submit their report.

The report submitted by Structwel’s structural engineer Chetan Raikar stated that the building had suffered cracks due to the “original poor quality construction”.

Advocate Simran Puri, appearing on behalf of the society, said “The respondents have sought time to file their reply on the suggestion made by IIT and the court has now adjourned the matter till February 10”.