British govt wrote to state about the bridge in 2010, say local residents

MAHAD (RAIGAD DISTRICT): After the collapse of the bridge on the Savitri river in Mahad on Wednesday, local residents said the British government had written to

MAHAD (RAIGAD DISTRICT): After the collapse of the bridge on the Savitri river in Mahad on Wednesday, local residents said the British government had written to the district administration in 2010, informing that the bridge at Mahad has completed 100 years and its utility period was over.

HT Image

Despite the letter from the British government, the public works department gave a report stating the bridge was in good condition. Considering the heavy traffic on the route, the PWD built a new bridge parallel to old one in 2000. Despite the new bridge in place, the administration allowed vehicular traffic movement on the old bridge.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has now ordered an inquiry into the incident. “The inquiry will reveal if there were any lapses by authorities while assessing the condition of the bridge,” he said, when asked if the PWD department had been negligent while giving a report that mentioned Mahad bridge was in good condition. “The inquiry will bring out the truth on what action was taken to avert the tragedy.”