Palanpur bridge collapse: contractor blacklisted by govt
he contract for bridge construction was given to a company blacklisted by AMC
Updated: Oct 27th, 2023
Updated on Oct 27, 12 p.m.
As per the preliminary report by the committee, there was a lack of barricading and traffic management. Based on the reports of the committee that was formed on the day of the incident, the contractor company GPC Infrastructure has been blacklisted, along with the suspension of two engineers.
Multiple samples, including concrete, steel, design, and mapping, were taken by the committee, and further steps will be taken by the government after the results.
Updated on Oct 25, 12.10 p.m.
Following the intense protest by the family and acquaintances of the deceased in the Palanpur bridge collapse that occurred on the morning of Oct 24, the police have assured that action will be taken against the accused contractor, GP Infrastructure.
Culpable homicide case
Akshayraj Makwana, the superintendent of police (SP), Banaskantha, said, “We have filed the case under Section 304 of the IPC against seven directors and four engineers of the contract company GP Infrastructure.”
A survey of the site was carried out by the roads and building (R&B) department.
Further reports are to be disclosed after the results of samples taken by quality control in the R&B department, and the names of more accused will be added to the case.
Complaint is filed against seven directors of GP Infrastructure, which include Ganesh Chaudhary, Parth Chaudhary, Dalji Chaudhary, Mahendra Chaudhary, Piyush Chaudhary, Dali Chaudhary, and Takhi Chaudhary.
The case was also filed against four engineers, Jagmaram Vanzara, Shani Mewada, Hardik Parmar, and Naman Mewada.
The bridges in Gujarat, like house of cards, have developed a habit of collapsing. First in Morbi, then Surendranagar, and now in Banaskatha’s Palanpur, the pillars and the structures of these bridges are giving away, making them a catastrophe waiting to take place.
In a tragic incident that took place on Oct 23, a section of an under-construction bridge near RTO Circle in Palanpur collapsed, taking the lives of two individuals.
The bridge, which was in the last phase of construction, was under the contract of GPC Infrastructure.
According to Palanpur police, the incident happened around 3 p.m. near RTO Circle on National Highway 58, where a three-leg elevated bridge that had been under construction collapsed. The assistant superintendent of police (ASP), fire brigade, and collector of Banaskantha rushed to the spot.
Two lives lost
Two individuals, including one sitting in the rickshaw, died in the tragic incident. 18-year-old Mayur Chandrethiya and 26-year-old Ajay Shrimali, residents of Kasba Vas in Palanpur, died under the debris of the bridge.
Taking serious note of the incident, chief minister Bhupendra Patel summoned senior engineers of the road and building departments at Palanpur to know the primary reason behind the accident.
Blacklisted contractor?
The contract for bridge construction was given to GPC Infrastructure Pvt Ltd at a cost of ₹80 cr.
As per certain news reports, the contractor sparked controversy in 2017 when they allegedly issued fake bills, after which the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) blacklisted the GPC Infrastructure company.
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