Oppn blames govt for 11-month delay in building new Kund Mala bridge after nod to Rs 8cr plan

Time of India

5 hours ago

1
2
3
Pune: The collapse of a footbridge on Indrayani River in Kund Mala on Sunday has become the latest example of govt apathy towards expediting infrastructural work.
Documents from Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that the state govt sanctioned Rs 8 crore for the construction of a new parallel bridge at the same spot on July 11 last year.
The final work order for the construction was issued on June 10, 2025, just five days before the tragedy.
Four lives were lost and 54 others were injured, some of them are critical. Officials said the new structure would have eased stress on the old bridge.
The bridge was constructed three decades ago and maintained by Pune zilla parishad. It links Shelarwadi near Bhegdewadi close to Pune-Mumbai highway to Kanhewadi near Indori in Maval tehsil of Pune district and was notified as dangerous and shut.
It collapsed after some tourists ignored the warning and stood on the bridge.
The footbridge with a concrete safety rail for some part and an iron guard rail over the rest was five feet wide and served as the only crossing between the villages. "It hasn't seen proper maintenance in years, and with a growing tourist footfall — including people riding two-wheelers on it — the structure was under severe strain," a PWD official told TOI.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
The new bridge, 175m long and 7.5m wide, was approved based on strong local demand to improve regional connectivity and address rising tourist traffic. It was green-lit under the first tenure of the Mahayuti govt and then PWD minister Ravindra Chavan sanctioned Rs 8 crore through supplementary budgetary provisions for 2024-25.
PWD officials said there was no delay. "The process from sanction to execution is systematic and involves multiple stages.
Design approvals, technical inputs, and the tendering process take time," they added.
Another PWD official said, "Though funds were allocated last year, we had to incorporate suggestions from local villagers. The design approval took time as the area has a specific stone and aesthetic elements which added to the longer timeline."
The opposition has blamed govt for the 11-month delay in constructing the new bridge.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said, "When funds were sanctioned for the bridge last year, where did that money go? When it comes to projects of public interest, Mahayuti always drags its feet."
NCP (SP) Pune city president Prashant Jagtap said, "Since the tender was not awarded to a particular contractor of Mahayuti politicians' choice, it has been delayed. I will soon bring these facts out in the open."
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said govt has failed to take measures to averts such tragedies. "If the bridge was so dangerous, why was no step taken to prevent its use? Instead, it gives a stock reply. What are govt departments doing?"
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "The contract was awarded on June 10 this year, therefore, the construction was not going to be completed when the tragedy happened. We are not bothered about such allegations as they do not hold any water."