Yarub Badr placed a glass on a car dashboard during a drive on the road to Damascus airport. The demonstration prompted debate over whether the informal test can establish construction quality.
Syrian Transport Minister Yarub Badr drove along the road to the new Damascus airport with a glass of water on the dashboard. The ministry posted a video of the trip on Facebook. The demonstration was meant to show how evenly the surface had been laid and how smoothly the car travelled.
Al Jazeera said the method is used as a visual demonstration: if a vehicle shakes over uneven pavement, the water moves and may spill. A still glass suggests a smoother road. The test is also used to illustrate how a vehicle’s suspension works.
The video drew mixed reactions. Some users praised the minister for visiting the construction site and checking the work in person. Others asked what car had been used and why the surface had not been measured with modern technical equipment.
Commenters said a visual demonstration alone cannot establish the quality of a major infrastructure project. They called for documented engineering tests and strict acceptance standards, as well as inspections after the road opens, when its performance can be judged in actual use.