Gujarat: Bridge Would Last For 8-10 Years, Sustain Weight Of 125 People, Renovator Had Claimed

For the past 15 years, Gujarat-based electrical appliance manufacturer Oreva group has been in charge of bridge maintenance. The corporation had failed to get the bridge's fitness certificate.

The private company, Oreva Group, which renovated the bridge that collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi killing more than 130 people, had claimed that they used "improved technologies" and the repairs would last at least eight to 10 years with no danger to the public. On Monday, nine people were arrested in connection with the incident, including four officials of Oreva.

"The rehabilitation of this bridge cost Rs 2 crore, the bridge could take the weight of only about 125 people," a senior official of the company had said. However, on Sunday, the bridge was crammed with atleast 400 people when it collapsed. 

The hanging bridge, originally built in 1887 by the erstwhile Morbi ruler Vaghji Thakor, was thrown open for the public on October 26 by Oreva Group's managing director (MD) Jaysukh Patel and his family in the presence of the media.

During a press conference on October 24, days before the official reopening of the bridge following seven months of renovation, Jaysukhbhai Patel stated that the bridge would last for many years.

"If people have pleasure here without causing damage to the property...then these restorations can continue for the next 15 years," he had said. He also said that the bridge was "completely" renovated for less than Rs 2 crore.

Patel further said that they would charge an admission fee to regulate admittance and manage crowds. "We also don't want to overburden the bridge's sturdiness," he added.

"With the assistance of the Collector and the President of the Morbi Municipal Corporation, we'll be providing them discounts," he added. "I don't remember the specific agreement, but we'll be reducing the entry fees by one-two rupees per year for the next seven years."

Oreva had subcontracted a portion of the refurbishment project to 'Prakash bhai,' a division of Dev Prakash Solutions, because they had handled some of the post-earthquake repairs in 2007, Patel said during the press briefing.

The 230m (754ft) Machchu river bridge was constructed during British rule in the nineteenth century.

A top Oreva Group official Deepak Parekh had said the bridge was constructed at a time when technology was limited, using only wooden planks and timbers. He had obtained the raw material in line with the bridge's standards and technical specifications.

Local officials said that Oreva Group, a manufacturer of clocks and electrical equipment, had not alerted authorities that the bridge would reopen last week following repairs, and that no fitness certificate had been obtained, Reuters reported. 

According to Sandeepsinh Zala, chief officer of Morbi municipality, Gujarat-based electrical appliance producer Oreva group, known for its Ajanta clocks, has been in responsibility of maintaining the bridge for 15 years.

"They didn't tell us anything about reopening the bridge," Zala remarked. "We have not issued them with a fitness certificate," Reuters reported.

The Indian Express newspaper quoted an Oreva spokesperson as saying: “While we are waiting for more information, prima facie, the bridge collapsed as too many people in the mid-section of the bridge were trying to sway it from one way to the other."

On Sunday, a suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi region collapsed, killing over 130 people, making it one of the biggest disasters in recent times. A Guajart citizen has started this petition: change.org/BridgeToSafety

(With Inpust From Agencies)