Andheri bridge collapse: WR issues charge sheets to 5 staff

Two assistant divisional engineers and three bridge inspectors were held primarily responsible for the collapse.

The Western Railway (WR), on the basis of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) report on the collapse of the pedestrian pathway of the Gokhale bridge at Andheri railway station, which killed two people last July, issued charge sheets to five of its staffers.

The Western Railway (WR), on the basis of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) report on the collapse of the pedestrian pathway of the Gokhale bridge at Andheri railway station, which killed two people last July, issued charge sheets to five of its staffers.(Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)

Two assistant divisional engineers and three bridge inspectors were held primarily responsible for the collapse, whereas the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was held secondarily responsible in the report submitted earlier this year.

The employees have been asked to submit a written statement in their defence, which will then be evaluated.

“The inquiry has begun and we have issued charge sheets to the employees. After the inquiry has been concluded, the severity of punishment will be decided,” said a senior western railway official ,who did want to be named.

If the zonal railways holds the employees accountable for the collapse, disciplinary action, penalties, including stopping of increment and promotion for a time period or dismissal from service are the actions that could be taken.

“The departments involved will take a call on the action to be taken against the employees,” added the official.

Sushil Chandra, CRS, western circuit, in a detailed report of more than 200 pages, had stated that the collapse of the pathway occurred owing to heavy corrosion, which was attributed to the additional load of 124 tonnes of cables and paver blocks.