Bridge collapse: Mamata to hold high-level meeting today; will discuss reasons, contingency plans

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a high level meeting at Nabanna on Thursday in connection with the collapse of Majerhat Bridge on Tuesday.

Besides discussion on issues that led to the incident, there will also be detailed discussion on the steps that need to be taken to avoid such incidents in future.

The Chief Minister, who went to the spot directly after returning from Darjeeling, said: "I have called a meeting at 3.30 pm on Thursday."

Ministers and senior officials of the concerned departments, including the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department and the state Public Works department, will be present in the meeting. Chief Secretary Malay De, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya, Director General of Police Virendra and the Commissioner of Police will also attend the same. The meeting will start at 3.30 pm.

Senior officials and engineers of the PWD also held a series of meetings on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

With the middle portion of Majerhat Bridge caving in, the PWD is now planning to erect an iron bailey bridge to connect Ekbalpore and Behala.

The step would be taken on an immediate basis to ensure smooth flow of vehicles as the southern fringes of the city have been witnessing major traffic diversion since Tuesday evening, when the bridge collapse took place.

Senior officials including Principal Secretary of the state PWD Arnab Roy, with Engineer-in-Chief Tapas Mukhopadhyay and Chief Engineer (Headquarters) of the department Amitava Sengupta, held a meeting on Wednesday to chalk out the next course of action to ensure normalcy after the incident.

The officials visited Majerhat Bridge after the meeting. Senior engineers of the state PWD had also visited the spot on Tuesday.

Sources said setting up of the iron bailey bridge has been planned for "restoration of traffic normalcy in the shortest time possible".

At the same time, an assessment will be carried out to check the health of the remaining portion of the bridge. Sources said a Chief Engineer level official will be carrying out the safety inspection.

"Immediate steps would be taken up for repairing portions of the bridge after the safety inspection. At the same time, the work of erecting the bailey bridge will be carried out in the shortest time possible," sources said, adding that top brass of the department will also be carrying out day-to-day monitoring of the safety inspection.

However, dismantling of the caved-in portion of the bridge is the first task that needs to be carried out. There was discussion in this connection as well.