3-member panel to probe eastern freeway accident

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has set up a three-member committee to look into the reasons of last Thursday’s accident on the Eastern Freeway project, which claimed the life of one worker.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has set up a three-member committee to look into the reasons of last Thursday’s accident on the Eastern Freeway project, which claimed the life of one worker.

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The MMRDA has deputed IIT professor Ravi Sinha, PWD chief engineer SB Tamsekar and the chief of MMRDA’s transport and communication department PRK Murthy to look into the cause of the accident.

Last Thursday, a launching girder deployed at the Eastern Freeway project had collapsed at Wadala, killing one and injuring seven. The MMRDA is yet to find out why the girder collapsed.

Some experts said the massive equipment developed stress fractures after being used to lift heavy weights, and snapped, bringing down the slab it was holding up. Also, the supporting beam of the launching girder may have slipped, causing it to collapse with the slab.

“The experts will also recommend remedial measures to avoid such mishaps in the future. They will submit a report in 15 days,” MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawathkar said.

Meanwhile, the Wadala-Anik Road on which the accident occurred was opened on Monday morning, after being closed for over 72 hours.