HC questions nod to Morbi bridge use
The Gujarat high court on Wednesday asked the
Morbi civic body whether the agreement to allow a private company to maintain and operate the British-era suspension bridge was approved by the authority and whether it gave permission to the firm to open the bridge for public use. Days after it was reopened, the suspension bridge on the Machchu river in Gujarat’s Morbi town collapsed on October 30, killing 135 people. A division bench headed by chief justice Aravind Kumar also pulled up the Morbi municipality for allowing Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd — operating under the banner of Oreva group — to open the bridge for public use after the authority informed the court that it did not give the approval for it, and asked them to submit an affidavit a copy of the approval, if any.
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Wednesday asked the Morbi civic body whether the agreement to allow a private company to maintain and operate the British-era suspension bridge in Morbi was approved by the authority and whether it gave permission to the firm to open the bridge for public use.
Days after it was reopened following renovation, the bridge on the Machchu river in Gujarat’s Morbi town collapsed on Octo30, killing 135 people.
A division bench headed by chief justice Aravind Kumar also pulled up the Morbi municipality for allowing Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd — operating under the banner of Oreva group — to open the bridge for public after the authority informed court that it did not give the approval for it.
“We hereby direct the Morbi Nagarpalika (municipality) to place on record the copy of the approval granted by its general board, if any, approving the agreement dated March 8, 2022,” said the bench.
The court asked the civic body to disclose in an affidavit as to how the firm was permitted to keep the bridge open between December 29, 2021 and March 7, 2022, despite knowing it was in a critical condition.
“We also direct the present in-charge of Morbi municipality to be present on the next date of hearing physically,” the bench said while hearing a suo motu PIL on the collapse of the bridge.
In its affidavit filed on Wednesday, the Morbi municipality said that “on December 29, 2021, Ajanta had informed the then chief officer of Morbi Nagarpalika that the condition of the bridge was critical and requested it to take a decision with regard to the draft agreeber ment for maintenance and management of the bridge”. Advocate Devang Vyas, appearing for Morbi municipality, said the bridge was closed between March 8 and October 25, 2022, and was supposed to remain closed even thereafter.
In the morning, the court said it would impose a cost of ₹1 lakh if the civic body did not file the affidavit by 4.30 pm. On Tuesday, the court asked the state whether any steps were taken by authorities to float a tender for the bridge’s operation and maintenance.