Mumbai civic body to repair 16 bridges based on Prof Desai firm’s report

BMC to refer to the same old report that had termed Himalaya Bridge collapse

In the wake of the March 14 Himalaya bridge collapse, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to carry out minor repairs of 16 bridges and subways. While it may seem like a good move, here’s the problem – the 16 bridges have been selected on the basis of a report by Prof DD Desai engineering firm, which had termed the bridge that collapsed safe.

The Byculla Bridge near Gloria Church is set to get minor repairs soon (HT Photo)

Prof DD Desai was one of the three firms that audited 305 of 314 bridges in the city.

According to a senior officer from the bridges department, Desai’s firm had surveyed structures in zone one (Fort, Byculla, Marine Drive, Dongri, Chandanwadi) and zone two (Dadar, Worli, Parel, Prabhadevi). It had categorised 17 bridges as good, 43 in need of minor repairs, 19 in need of major repairs and three dilapidated.

The civic body had then said that all bridges inspected by the firm will have to be re-inspected.

The ₹13.86-crore proposal will come up in the next standing committee meeting on March 27. The 16 structures include five from D ward (Grant Road, Haji Ali, Tardeo Road, Walkeshwar Road), three from A ward (Fort, Colaba and Marine Drive), three from B ward (Dongri, P D’Mello road and Sandhurst Road) and one from C ward (Princess street), three from E ward (Byculla) and one in between E and B ward.