Pune bridge collapse: Former BJP minister seeks probe into delay in construction of new structure

Former Maharashtra minister Ravindra Chavan on Tuesday demanded a probe into why the construction of a new bridge over the Indrayani river in Pune did not commence despite Rs 8 crore being sanctioned for it last year.

The BJP leader's remarks has come two days after four persons died and 18 were injured in the collapse of a 35-year-old bridge across the Indrayani river in Pune's Maval tehsil.

The bridge that collapsed on Sunday, 15 June, afternoon in Kundamala area was built in 1993 and was not fit for use, but people who gathered there ignored warning signboards and more than 100 persons got on to the structure, officials earlier said.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters inv Mumbai, Chavan said when he was the Public Works Department (PWD) minister during the previous Mahayuti government, he had sanctioned Rs 8 crore in October 2024 for the construction of a new bridge at the same site.

"Today, I spoke to PWD minister Shivendraraje Bhosale and other officials, requesting them to conduct a probe into this accident," he said.

Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi had said on Monday, 16 June, that the tender for a new bridge was floated some months back, while the work order was issued a week ago.

It takes 15 days to start the work from the day of the work order so its construction will begin shortly, he added.

Maharashtra Minister of Disaster Management Girish Mahajan had earlier said the bridge collapsed under the weight of a large number of tourists.

"The bridge was meant for pedestrians only, and there was a warning board stating that it cannot be used by two-wheelers. It seems people on the bridge did not heed these instructions," Mahajan said.