Two BMC engineers suspended; inquiry against two others

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has fixed the responsibility of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) bridge collapse and initiated action against BMC staffers responsible for the incident. 

After the vigilance report, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta ordered suspension of one executive engineer (bridges) and one assistant engineer (bridges), while one more executive engineer has to face a departmental inquiry. 

Mehta ordered a departmental inquiry against two retired chief engineers of BMC where the consultant who carried out the structural audit of the bridge and the contractor who did the repair work has been recommended to be blacklisted. 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday ordered civic chief Ajoy Mehta to conduct an inquiry in this regard and submit the report by evening.

The inquiry was based on the structural audit report. The structural audit was done by Prof Desai’s Associated Engineering and Consultants in December 2016. 

In the audit report, the auditor claimed that the condition of the bridge is good, but there is a need for minor repairs. He said there is corrosion in threads and the cement concrete slabs of the bridge, but did not recommended major repairs of the bridge. 

The Vigilance Committee found that the structural audit was carried out incorrectly and major lapses were there. The action is initiated against the structural auditor for a casual approach towards the work leading to major tragedy. 

According to Mehta’s report, “The RPS Infrastructure carried out the structural repairs of the bridge. However, despite repairs, a major incident happened which took lives of six persons. It seems that the supervision and workmanship of the contractor were not up to the mark, hence both the contractors are responsible for the mishap and the company RPS Infrastructure to be issued show cause notice for the sub-standard repair work on the bridge and the company should be blacklisted.” 

The report found then chief engineer SO Kori (retired) guilty and to face a full-fledged departmental inquiry. Then deputy chief engineer RB Tare (retired) also found responsible for the incident and has to face a full-fledged departmental inquiry. 

Similarly, then executive engineer AB Patil placed under suspension and to face a full-fledged departmental inquiry. 

Also, then assistant engineer supervising the structural audit SF Kakulte to be placed under suspension and face a full-fledged departmental inquiry.