24 October,2009 08:01 AM IST | | Urvashi Seth and Sanjeev Devasia
Thane Municipal Corporation and Central Railway fought over u00a0u00a0the bridge for three years, till it finally crashed and killed two people yesterday, causing losses of Rs 2.13 crore BRIDGE OF CONTENTION: The delay in the repair of the bridge that crashed on the Kalyan-bound train near Thane claimed two and injured 11 yesterday. Pic/Sameer Markande
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) officials were quick to blame the railway administration for the collapse of the half-constructed Kopri bridge yesterday, saying that they had brought its precariousness to the notice of the Central Railways (CR) who failed to take any action. However, CR officials have refuted the allegation.
Block-ed
"In 2006 we had asked CR to declare a mega block, so we could complete work on the half-constructed Kopri bridge, but they did not respond to our request," said Sandeep Malvi, public relation officer (PRO), TMC. "Lalu Prasad Yadav had given permission when he was the railway minister, but CR officials were adamant." Malvi added that in June 2008, the TMC had sent CR a warning letter saying that if a mishap takes place, it will be the railways' responsibility.
Unsafe bridge
However, what the TMC officials did not reveal was that Ved Prakash, Officer on Special Duty, Mumbai Division Central Railway, had written a letter dated August 7, 2009, to the Thane Municipal Commissioner detailing the lapses of the contractors and the officials of the TMC and RITES, the project management consultant, while they carried out the work on the bridge.
He had also stated that the officials had been casual about safety arrangements at the time of the 56 blocks CR had arranged for the TMC between April 2006 and August 2009. He also pointed out cracks in a girder, listed problems with another girder and assured the TMC that they could avail more blocks if necessary.
But all that TMC and railway officials did was slug it out till the mishap took place. Central Railway PRO Srinivas Mudgerikar said, "The TMC was constructing the bridge and they had appointed the contractors. However, the Commissioner of Railway Safety will look into the mishap."
While nobody was willing to take the blame for the accident, Ganesh Naik, guardian minister for Navi Mumbai, said, "It is the railways' fault. The TMC had been asking the railways for the blocks since 2002, but we are still waiting for the permissions."
MLA Eknath Shinde and City Engineer K D Lal echoed Naik's views. However, B Modgil, general manager, CR said, "I will have to investigate the matter before I comment."
Estimated losses
While it is too early to estimate the losses caused by the mishap, u00a0u00a0MiD DAY has arrived at an approximate figure with inputs from u00a0railway officials
| Trains cancelled | Number | Passengersu00a0per train' | Ticket price' | Losses (in RS) |
| Local trains | 500 | 3000 | 10 | 1.5 Crore |
| Long distance | 24 | 1000 | 250 | 80 Lakhs |
| Up trains from Pune | 3 | 1000u00a0 | 100 | 3 Lakh |
