Nashik officials begin audit of old bridges

The Nashik district administration and the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) have begun an audit of old bridges in Nashik following the Mahad tragedy. The NMC received a letter from United Kingdom in 1995, which stated that the Victoria bridge had completed 100 years. The NMC immediately built a parallel bridge, which was named Rajmata Jijao Bridge. However, the old bridge, which was named after queen Victoria, is still being used for one-way traffic while the Jijao bridge is used by commuter in the opposite direction.

The NMC commissioner Abhishek Krishna said, “The city engineer has been asked to find out about the British-era structures and will carry out a structural audit. Focus will be on the Victoria bridge, which connects Nashik and Panchavati.”

Nashik collector B. Radhakrishnan said that he had directed the PWD to conduct a structural audit of all old bridges. “We are also taking precautions when it comes to the public use of bridges, especially those located in flood-prone areas like Saikheda. This is on a case-to-case basis,” he said.

Leading structural engineer Achal Raje said that RCC bridges had a life span of 30 years compared to the British-era stone bridges, which continue to function even after a century. “The government should build new bridges parallel to existing old bridges. Where alternate bridges have been built, the use of the old bridges should be stopped and they should be demolished,” he said.

Environmentalist Rajesh Pandit said that he had observed peepal trees growing out from the railings and sides of old bridges. “These are very dangerous for bridges and they should be rooted out and holes should be plugged,” he said. The bridge in Bhagur is in a terrible state, while one that was built in 1925 over the Laxmi River on Malegaon-Manmad road is also dilapidated. In Nashik Road, a parallel bridge had been built over the Waldevi River, but the old bridge is still being used.