Mumbai: Under-construction bridge collapses in BKC, 14 injured

According to MMRDA, the incident took place around 4.40 am at the MTNL junction/arm in BKC when the deck concreting work of girder was being carried out. An official said a 65-m long and 8.5-m wide span of the girder tilted at one side during the deck concreting work. Of the 24 workers, two engineers and two supervisors carrying out the work, 14 workers sustained injuries.

Many of the workers who were on the span for concreting work jumped from the structure while some were trapped. They injured were taken to V N Desai Hospital in Santacruz (East). Thirteen of the 14 injured workers were discharged after being administered first aid, while one has been kept under observation.

Officials claimed that the span tilted within the barricaded area, causing no disruption to the surrounding roads and traffic.

Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, S V R Srinivas, who inspected the spot after the incident said that the authority would inquire into the reasons behind the accident. The inquiry will be conducted within 15 days by an independent body comprising members from IIT-Bombay and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute while MMRDA engineers, who are not a part of the project, will provide assistance.

“We have ordered a detailed inquiry and based on the report, necessary action will be taken,” Srinivas added.

Eyewitnesses said the steel span of the bridge had been launched safely and concreting work on the stretch had started when the structure gave way. “We believe that the bearings of the span may have given way. However, the exact reason would be revealed only after the inquiry. It will also reveal if there was any negligence,” said an official.

The extension work of SCLR – an elevated corridor – is being carried out in two phases. The girder that got tilted and caved during the deck concreting was a part of the flyover that would connect SCLR from BKC to Lal Bahadur Shastri flyover in Kurla.

The first phase of the 5.4-km SCLR extension project is set to cost Rs 645 crore. The work on the project had began in October 2016 and is scheduled to be completed in March 2022. So far, around 55-60 per cent of the work has been completed.

The project will connect from Eastern Express Highway to Western Express Highway and is likely to substantially reduce travel time of motorists.