The measure comes after a portion of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri collapsed on July 3, resulting in the loss of life and halting services on Western Railway for a few hours.
Call it the Gokhale Bridge effect: Railways has made fixing of infrastructural flaws, that could cost lives, a priority; paperwork will be filed later. The decision was taken at a high-level joint meeting between various agencies on Wednesday, and will apply to 12 teams inspecting 445 foot- and road-over-bridges in Mumbai and its metropolitan region.
The measure comes after a portion of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri collapsed on July 3, resulting in the loss of life and halting services on Western Railway for a few hours.
Henceforth, if any defect is found during an audit, the teams will immediately shut the bridge down to attend to repairs. Depending on the severity, it could be public access could be restricted partially or completely. This has already been applied to five bridges.
Until quick response to issue redressal is undertaken, there is no use of such audits, say Railway officials. "Usually, if a bridge needs repair work, we first send a proposal," said AK Gupta, general manager of Western Railways, "But now, repair work will start immediately while paperwork carries on in the background."
The teams will be carrying out inspection as per the set procedures and rules of the Indian Railways. Additions and suggestions made by IIT-ians shall also be incorporated.
All 445 bridges need to be inspected within six months, while an inquiry report by the Commissioner of Railway Safety on the Gokhale Bridge is expected by July 18.
WR officials also claim this is the first time that co-ordination between various agencies such as BMC and BEST is at its smoothest. DNA had reported how shoddy co-ordination between various civic agencies handicaps averting and handling of disasters.
Meanwhile, the audit team has said it cannot inspect the bridges during the day without severely affecting train services. "We will have to shut a line for at least one hour for a thorough inspection," said a WR official. "This is why the only way out is to inspect during night and on Sundays during mega blocks."
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