Section of "under-construction" Andheri flyover collapses

A Flyover has been in construction at Andheri (in Bombay) on the Western Express highway for the past several years. The Flyover once completed will connect Vile Parle - after Domestic Airport - to Andheri riding over three major intersections. As such all these intersections are major and the construction activity has created enough problems to the motorists. A stretch which should take hardly five minutes now takes anywhere upto 30 minutes. Once completed this will not only be one of the longest flyover but would have the dubious distinction of having taken almost four years to complete. There were several hiccups in completion including political imbroglio and a prolonged court case. The Flyover is slated for completion by November 2001.

It was reported that a beam section weighing about 18 mt of the under-construction flyover collapsed on early hours of Tuesday. Mr. Shankar Saha a contract labourer died in the incident. The construction of the flyover has already claimed five lives so far.

Exact details of the incident are not available. M/s. V M Jog Constructions, the engineers for construction of the flyover, are expected to make a statement some time later. Some experts have opined that the quality of construction is very poor and the section which collapsed bears mute testimony to this.  The time limitation given to the contractors has been a major issue. The Project engineers had demanded the traffic of the western express highway to be temporarily re routed in order to get more space for work. This was not allowed as this is one of the arterial roads. Even the demands for making it one way was rejected by the BMC. Mr.Mulla, one of the engineers told that their Chief engineer had gone to the police station for clearing the legal issues.

The flyover has seen plenty of controversy with environmental groups fighting against the plan to incorporate a shopping complex within the structure to pay for its construction. The construction had even been halted for some time owing to court cases.

Ever since construction was resumed, work had been going on at a frenetic pace at the site as the flyover was to be completed by November 30 2001. This accident has occurred just a few days before the slated completion, and possibly will provide further excuses for delay.

Mr.Rajesh Sharma, Municipal Councillor and ex Chairman of BEST visited the site and expressed grief over the loss of human life. Public in the nearby areas were heard stating that "If this is the situation before the flyover has started we wonder what would be the scene once it is in regular use".

Some photographs of the collapsed Flyover:

The remains of the Beam	Poor quality of the Construction
The remains of the Collapsed beam evidencing use of substandard construction  material	The bent section due to the impact of the falling beam
The gaping hole where the Beam rested	The sloping beam affected by the Collapse
Heavy traffic movement in the area serving the MIDC and important Industrial Estates	The Tax Payer's money in rubbles
The Construction work in progress	The Concrete Beam here collapsed

Andheri East
Mumbai
6th November, 2001