Bridge too far, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• A bridge collapse in Vadodara on July 9 led to 18 confirmed deaths.
• Recent similar incidents include bridge and structure collapses in Pune, Cuttack, Mizoram, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Bengaluru.
• These incidents reflect a pattern of infrastructure failures tied to neglect and overuse.
• Urban growth is outpacing the design capacities of legacy infrastructure.
• Existing investigations rarely result in public failure analysis reports.
• Audits are sporadic and often limited to similar structures, not systemic reviews.
• Emphasis needed on regular maintenance and safety audits under schemes like AMRUT and Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF).

Detailed Insights:

• Ageing infrastructure, especially in peri-urban and high-growth areas, is increasingly vulnerable due to overuse and lack of maintenance.
• Most accidents involve neglect by local authorities, underfunded civic bodies, and absence of timely audits.
• Investigative mechanisms post-accidents often lack transparency and are not followed by preventive action elsewhere.
• There is an urgent need to revise infrastructure policy focus from asset creation to preventive maintenance.
• Baseline municipal audit frameworks exist for infrastructure like bridges, but lack of enforcement leads to gaps in safety oversight.
• Regular audits, mandatory inspections post-accidents, and public disclosure of findings are crucial to improve public accountability and safety.
• Targeted investments and audits should be prioritized in cities with populations exceeding 10 lakh, where risks are highest.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Infrastructure Audit: A systematic evaluation of the condition, safety, and maintenance needs of public assets like bridges, roads, etc.
• Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF): A funding scheme for urban infrastructure, needs expansion to include periodic inspections.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): Urban renewal programme focused on infrastructure development—needs shift towards rehabilitation and maintenance of existing assets.
• Failure Analysis Report: A technical investigation to determine causes of structural failure and prevent recurrence.