The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed to undertake audits of all the bridges in south Mumbai twice a year. An audit of the bridges will be conducted both before and after the monsoon, civic body stated.
According to reports, the BMC will carry structural audits of around 98 bridges, which include foot overbridges (FOBs), road overbridges (ROBs), flyovers, rail overbridges, freeways, subways and skywalks. For this, the civic body will spend about INR 5.5 crores.
This development comes as most of the bridges in south Mumbai are over 50 years old and need regular, thorough inspections. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that this announcement also comes ahead of the civic body polls slated this year in March or April.
Officials mentioned that regular inspection will ensure safety and immediate repairs if required, said an official from the BMC's bridges department. Moreover, similar proposals are on the way for bridges in the suburbs, civic officials added.
The civic corporation used to routinely inspect the bridges earlier, but will now conduct proper structural audits in south Mumbai.
Earlier, in March 2019, a re-audit of all the 344 bridges in the city was ordered after a portion of the Himalaya Bridge in CSMT came crashing down, killing six people and injuring over 30.
Following which, the structural audit report marked 176 bridges for minor repairs, 47 for major repairs and 14 for reconstruction, and most of these have been rebuilt or repaired.
Bifurcation of South Mumbai's 98 bridges
Bridges on nullah 7
Rail overbridges 27
Flyovers 12
Foot overbridges 24
FOB over Railway stations 12
Subway 9
Skywalk 5
Freeway 2