The Maharashtra government had planned to demolish the colonial-era bridge that collapsed on Tuesday night in Raigad district, Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil said in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to questions raised by Opposition members of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party over the collapse of bridge, Mr. Patil said the government’s safety audit in May “certified the bridge was structurally sound and so it was allowed to be opened to traffic.”
The Minister said it was a 100-year-old bridge. “We were planning to shut it down soon after a new bridge was constructed next to it in 2001. However, it continued to be functional owing to demands of locals. The two parallel bridges were used for one-way traffic.” Mr. Patil said, “Since members of this House are demanding action, we will recheck the report and action will be taken against the officers if required.”
He said an expert team from the IIT would assess the stability of all old bridges in the State.
Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, demanded that Mr. Patil take responsibility for the tragedy. “It is the failure of the government and the PWD. Criminal cases should be filed against the officials.”
NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar demanded that cases be filed under Section 302 of IPC against the Minister and PWD Secretary. Former Chief Minister Prithivraj Chavan demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde also demanded an inquiry and action against the officers.
