Prof D.D. Desai’s Associated Engineering Consultants and Analysts Private Limited was the structural auditor and consultant for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in two to three other repair and reconstruction works being carried out by the Bridges Department.
The firm has come under the scanner as it had declared the collapsed FOB at CSMT as ‘good’, based on which the BMC never undertook repairs. The firm’s director, Niraj Kumar Desai, was arrested on Monday in connection with the case.
The BMC has removed the firm from ongoing works, de-empanelled it, issued a blacklisting notice and stopped payment.
It has now come to light that the firm was also a structural consultant for BMC on a few bridge projects, including an extremely dilapidated bridge at Vakola and the Lalbaug bridge repairs. The BMC appoints consultants for a few bridges, especially when they are above nullahs or require design expertise. In the case of the Vakola bridge, the BMC had prepared estimates and invited bids.
The civic body will now have to appoint a new consultant. “We will take administrative sanction,” said a senior Bridges Department officer.
The Standing Committee has approved a list of consultants for use by various departments. The BMC will have to pick a new one from this list.
