Maharashtra — The state government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate alleged design flaws and irregularities in the Kawrapeth–Rajeev Nagar flyover, a structure that has been repeatedly flagged as accident-prone due to serious safety concerns.
The chief engineer has been appointed to lead the probe, with a mandate to examine irregularities in planning and design, as well as possible complicity of officials in the project's execution. The investigation team has been given a four-week deadline to submit its findings.
The flyover has come under intense scrutiny for its sharp curve and unsafe approach, which safety experts and traffic authorities have identified as major accident risks. Critics allege that fundamental design flaws have made the structure a hazard for commuters since its construction.
Cost Inflation Allegations
At the heart of the controversy are allegations of massive cost escalation and potential corruption. While the original project estimate was approximately ₹200 crore, funds made available for the flyover ballooned to around ₹305 crore—an increase of over 50 percent.
Accusations have emerged of collusion between government officials and designers in artificially inflating project costs. The probe will examine whether kickbacks or other irregularities led to the cost overruns and whether proper procurement procedures were followed.
Safety Warnings Ignored
Documents suggest that critical safety recommendations were disregarded during the design phase. Experts had proposed extending the overbridge and creating a safer intersection to prevent the dangerous turning point that currently misdirects vehicles and increases collision risk.
However, these suggestions were reportedly ignored, resulting in the flawed configuration that now poses a threat to motorists. The traffic department's concerns were so severe that it once refused to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the original design.
Officials from the traffic department had even considered shutting down part of the flyover to prevent potential mishaps, highlighting the gravity of the safety issues.
Jurisdiction Transfer Proposed
In response to the mounting problems, some legislators have proposed shifting responsibility for rectification work from the Public Works Department (PWD) to the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC).
There is growing support for transferring full jurisdiction of the flyover to MRIDC, which some believe is better equipped to undertake the necessary improvement works and address the structural and design deficiencies.
The committee's findings are expected to determine accountability and chart a course for making the flyover safe for public use. Authorities have assured that corrective measures will be implemented based on the investigation's conclusions.
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