Tragedy averted as structure falls on moving car

MUMBAI: A major tragedy was averted on the busy Western Express Highway (WEH) at 3.20 pm on Thursday when a portion of the structure that had been constructed below Jog Flyover in Andheri came crashing down on a moving car’s bonnet.
The flyover is one of the oldest flyovers, being constructed in the 1990's. “The car driver was very lucky. Had he been just a few metres ahead it could have been fatal.Who will compensate for his damage,” said an angry motorist.
Another motorist said that a structural audit of the bridge and the entire portion constructed below it needs to be done on priority.
The incident impacted the traffic flow briefly in the area leading to slow-moving traffic thereafter. However, traffic police cleared the site allowing the restoration of vehicle movement smoothly in a few minutes.
According to BMC the flyover which is currently under the civic body fostered maintenance was constructed by the Public Works Maintenance (PWD) along with the contractor on a Build and Operate basis. The appointed contractor after constructing the flyover was to operate commercial spaces like shops, and offices below it. “This failed to take off and the matter is currently under litigation. The BMC maintains the flyover and a portion of the structure below it which fell fortunately did not injure any person. We have already begun works of removing any loose parts around the crashed structure,” said a civic official.
It has also been learned that the BMC had proposed repairs to the flyover and structural strengthening of the structure. However, owing to the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections, the work is yet to commence.