The recent bridge accident in Vadodara has raised serious concerns about the responsibilities of local authorities. Following the tragic Morbi bridge collapse, the Gujarat government issued an order mandating that all small and large bridges in the state must be maintained by municipal corporations. However, an RTI activist from Surat, Sanjay Izawa, has revealed alarming details about the negligence of the Padra Municipal Corporation.
On March 7, 2023, the state government, through the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, confirmed that municipal bodies are now responsible for maintaining bridges in Gujarat. The directive specifies that inspections and maintenance of these structures are crucial to ensure public safety.
The order outlines various responsibilities for municipal corporations, including:
– Conducting primary inspections of bridges as per Appendix A.
– Completing pre-monsoon inspections in May and post-monsoon inspections in October, as mentioned in Appendix B.
– Following inspection and maintenance protocols laid out in Appendix C.
– Keeping proper records and preparing reports for inspections and maintenance, as instructed in Appendix D.
Despite these clear guidelines, the Padra Municipal Corporation has allegedly ignored its duties, leading to the tragic accident where nine people lost their lives when a bridge collapsed into the river.
Sanjay Izawa filed RTI applications on September 27, 2023, seeking information from all seven municipal corporations and 156 smaller municipalities regarding their compliance with the government’s maintenance directive. The responses received were shocking.
Out of 163 applications, many municipalities failed to provide adequate information. In particular, the Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Jamnagar municipal corporations did respond, but the municipalities of Bhavnagar and Junagadh reported no maintenance work conducted on their bridges. Furthermore, 45 out of 153 smaller municipalities did not respond at all, while 76 municipalities provided no information about their bridge maintenance efforts.
Izawa criticized the state’s neglect, pointing out that most municipalities treat the safety of public infrastructure as trivial. The lack of maintenance reported by these authorities raises serious concerns about the safety of thousands of individuals who use these bridges daily.
The Gujarat High Court has also taken notice of the Morbi incident and has demanded answers from both the government and the Oveera Group, responsible for the Morbi bridge. In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) numbered 87/2022, the court has included Izawa as a party to the case, urging a thorough investigation into the matter.
The responses from the municipal authorities were inconsistent. While some acknowledged that no maintenance had been performed, others claimed that the responsibility lies with the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department, thereby trying to shift blame.
The Padra Municipal Corporation, in particular, seemed to evade its responsibilities by redirecting queries to the Vadodara Urban Development Authority and the R&B department. This lack of accountability has resulted in tragic consequences, highlighting the urgent need for a reform in how local bodies manage public safety.
In conclusion, the Vadodara bridge accident serves as a wake-up call for the local authorities in Gujarat. The government must enforce strict compliance with maintenance protocols to prevent further tragedies. Citizens deserve safe infrastructure, and it is the duty of the municipal corporations to ensure their safety through regular inspections and necessary repairs. The ongoing investigation will hopefully lead to accountability and changes in policy to protect the public going forward.