MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government had planned to dismantle the ill-fated British era bridge across Savitri river at Mahad, whose collapse over a week ago claimed 26 lives.
The Mahad bridge was supposed to be pulled down last December but was kept under operation due to public demand, state PWD minister Chandrakant Patil said on Wednesday.
So far, 26 bodies have been recovered, while nearly 14 are still missing and feared dead following the collapse of the bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway on August 2.
Rescuers are continuing their efforts, braving high water current and crocodile hotbeds in the river, to trace the missing, even as anxious relatives vent their anger over the pace of the search operation.
“This particular bridge at Mahad was to be brought down last December but it was kept in operation due to public demand,” Patil said.
Soon after the tragedy, Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari had announced that NHAI would reconstruct the bridge within 18 months.