Bridge Collapse: 2 Engineers Suspended, Lapses in Audit Observed

The BMC also recommended action against the structural auditor for his casual approach while performing the audit.

Six persons were killed and 31 injured after a section of the foot overbridge near the CST station in south Mumbai collapsed on Thursday. 

(Photo: PTI)

Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Friday, 15 March, suspended two civic engineers in connection with Thursday's foot overbridge collapse that claimed six lives.

Mehta also ordered a probe against them and a departmental inquiry against two retired chief engineers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The directions were given by the civic chief following an inquiry conducted by the chief engineer (vigilance).

The civic body also recommended "action against the structural auditor for his casual approach while performing the structural audit" of the CST bridge.

“Prime-facie, it is reasonably concluded that the structural audit is not carried out correctly and major lapses observed in conducting the structural audit of the bridge,” a BMC report said.

Executive engineer AR Patil, who had supervised the structural audit of the bridge in 2017-18, and assistant Engineer SF Kakulte who had supervised its repair works in 2013-14, were suspended and a departmental enquiry has been ordered against them, an official said.

Mehta also ordered a departmental enquiry against the then chief engineer (bridges) SO Kori and the then deputy chief engineer RB Tare (both retired).

Charges will be framed against the officers accordingly, the official added.

Six persons were killed and 31 injured after a section of the foot overbridge near the CST station in south Mumbai collapsed during evening rush hour on Thursday.

(With inputs from PTI.)