NEW DELHI: Facing heat over the bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi, contractor Oreva’s higher-ups were finally mentioned in the court on Tuesday, November 1. The apex court remanded four out of the nine accused in the bridge collapse in four-day of police custody.
It has scheduled the hearing of the PIL for seeking the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the incident on November 14th.
The plea has sought directions to the states to form a committee to survey and conduct an assessment risk of old and risky monuments and bridges to ensure environmental viability and safety.
It has also sought direction to the states to constitute in their respective domains a construction incident investigation department so that fast and prompt investigation could be done whenever such incidents occur.
It said such departments should also have the duty to enquire about the quality and safety of any public construction taking place.
The police at the hearing today said that the bridge was closed for renovation and that mere repair was done in the name of renovation. It claimed, “From where the cable has broken off, the cable was already broken and rusted.” It added that there was no intimation given, no fitness certificate or NOC sought by the government before the bridge was reopened by the company days before it collapsed killing 135 people.