BMC proposes two audits a year to keep Mumbai bridges safe

A re-audit of all the 344 bridges in the city was ordered after a portion of the Himalaya Bridge in CSTM collapsed in March 2019. Pic/Ashish Raje

The bridges in south Mumbai will undergo two audits in a year, one before and another after the monsoon, the civic body said. The BMC will spend about R5.5 crore on structural audits of around 98 bridges, including foot overbridges (FOBs), road overbridges (ROBs), flyovers, subways and skywalks.

The BMC had conducted structural audits of bridges after an old one over Savitri river in Mahad, Raigad district, collapsed in 2016. A re-audit of all the 344 bridges in the city was ordered after a portion of the Himalaya Bridge in CSTM came crashing down in March 2019, killing six people and injuring over 30.

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.

The civic corporation used to routinely inspect the bridges earlier, but will now conduct proper structural audits in south Mumbai.

As per the proposal in the standing committee meeting, M/S Stratonics Consulting Engineers would conduct the audits at the cost of Rs 5.39 crore for five years.

The cost would include Rs 1.89 crore for routine inspection and principal inspection with non-destructive testing (NDT).

The contract also includes special inspection where major lapses are found. The contractor will do a detailed structural audit and design for repairing the bridge.

"Most of the bridges in south Mumbai are over 50 years old and need regular, thorough inspections. The audit will be done two times a year, one before the monsoon and another after the monsoon.

Regular inspection will ensure safety and immediate repairs if required," said an official from the BMC's bridges department. Similar proposals are on the way for bridges in the suburbs, said civic officials.

Rs 5.39 crore
Proposed cost of audits for 5 years

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
Free way 2