Inquiry Demanded After Tragic Pune Bridge Collapse

Mumbai, June 17 (PTI) Former Maharashtra minister Ravindra Chavan on Tuesday called for an investigation into the delay in the construction of a new bridge over the Indrayani river in Pune, despite Rs 8 crore being sanctioned last year. This demand from the BJP leader follows the tragic collapse of a 35-year-old bridge in Pune's Maval tehsil, which resulted in four fatalities and 18 injuries. The collapsed bridge, a structure from 1993, was deemed unsafe, yet over 100 individuals were present on it when the incident occurred, disregarding warning signs, officials reported. Chavan, during his tenure as the Public Works Department (PWD) minister in the previous Mahayuti government, claimed to have sanctioned funds for a new bridge at the site in October 2024, acknowledging the old structure's safety risks. He has since reached out to PWD minister Shivendraraje Bhosale, advocating for a thorough investigation into the accident. He emphasized the need to determine why the construction was postponed and promised accountability for any deliberate delays.

Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi clarified on Monday that the tender for the new bridge had been issued months ago, with the work order being issued just a week prior to the accident. While construction is projected to begin shortly, as it takes 15 days to start post the issuance of a work order, social activist Vijay Kumbhar raised suspicions about the legitimacy of the work order, noting that the date on it was handwritten, unlike the rest of the document. He suggested the possibility of a backdated work order.

The unfortunate event occurred at the 32-year-old iron bridge, a site popular with tourists in the Kundamala area of Maval tehsil, as over 100 people were present when it collapsed, causing the death of four individuals and significant injuries to 18 others. Criticism also emerged from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who questioned Chavan and the Mahayuti state government regarding the incident.

Collector Dudi stated that the bridge had been declared unsafe, yet it was crowded with individuals primarily occupied with taking selfies, despite existing restrictions and warnings against large gatherings in the area. He announced the formation of a committee to probe potential lapses by the local administration and to evaluate whether standard operating procedures were adequately enforced. The infrastructure was intended solely for pedestrian use, with a new structure planned for vehicles.

Maharashtra Minister of Disaster Management, Girish Mahajan, explained that the bridge succumbed to the overwhelming weight of tourists. He reiterated that the bridge had clear signage indicating its unsuitability for two-wheeler traffic, but these signs were ignored, contributing to the unfortunate collapse.