Following the recent collapse of a bridge over the Indrayani River in Pune's Maval taluka, the Maharashtra government has launched a comprehensive safety initiative for old bridges across the state. The Public Works Department (PWD) has been instructed to conduct a structural audit of all remaining bridges, particularly those built during the British era, and take immediate repair action where necessary.
According to official data, there are 16,519 bridges under the PWD, many of which date back to the colonial period. Of these, 1,693 bridges have been repaired in the last ten years, and structural audits of 451 bridges have already been completed.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Chief Secretary of the state have jointly directed officials to prioritize bridge safety following the tragic incident in Pune. As part of these efforts, the PWD is implementing extensive monsoon preparedness measures to ensure roads and bridges remain functional and safe.
A senior PWD official said that daily maintenance and timely repairs of major state highways, district roads, and other important routes are being carried out on a war footing. Warning signboards are being installed at vulnerable bridges that may get submerged during heavy rains, and traffic diversions are being maintained in good condition wherever repair or construction work is ongoing.
Additionally, field officers have been instructed to take special precautions during the monsoon, with specific responsibilities delegated to engineering assistants, junior engineers, deputy engineers, executive engineers, and superintendent engineers.
To streamline emergency response, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been established. Control rooms at the district and taluka levels are fully operational, with chief engineers, superintendent engineers, and executive engineers conducting regular inspections.
Warning signs and barricades have also been placed on both sides of bridges that are either in a dangerous condition or closed to traffic. These efforts, officials say, are aimed at ensuring prompt action and minimizing disruption during emergencies throughout the monsoon season.
The state government's proactive steps are being seen as critical to preventing future tragedies and maintaining public infrastructure in peak condition, especially in the face of increasingly unpredictable monsoon weather.
