‘BMC, Rlys responsible for collapse’

MUMBAI: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has submitted its preliminary report to Western Railway (WR) and railway board in connection with the collapse of Gokhale Bridge pathway in Andheri on July 3 in which it held the railways responsible for its alleged negligence toward corrosion at the pathway and the fact that utility cables had burdened it beyond its capacity. The report also held the BMC responsible indirectly, as it had not taken permissions from the WR for adding additional load by way of cables, sand and paver-blocks.

A source said that 124 tonnes additional burden was loaded on the pathway of the Gokhale Bridge, while the permissible burden on the pathway for pedestrian portion was 279 tonnes as per General Arrangement Drawing (GAD). The additional burdens were of paver blocks, cements, and public utility cables.

The railway minister Piyush Goel had ordered the CRS enquiry on the day of the accident. In the crash, one life was lost while four other victims had sustained serious injuries while the suburban rail services got crippled for over 18 hours.  

"The cables were laid without permission from the WR on pathways of Gokhale bridge," the source said, adding that now, the question, what were the railway officers doing while inspecting the bridge in November 2017? Why did the officers not raise the question of cables with concerned authorities?  The source also claimed, "The drainage system on the pathway was not proper. It led to seepage leading to corrosion of iron channels," the source claimed.  

A press release issued by CRS of western circle (Mumbai), Sushil Chandra, said, "The accident is classified as 'failure of railway staff and others'." Amid this, the Mumbai division of WR is preparing a reply to the findings of the CRS report.