NMC to inspect all bridges in Nashik

NASHIK: A total of 10 bridges across the city have been partially damaged during the recent swelling of river Godavari. This was revealed during an inspection of these structures carried out by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC).
There are a total of 50 small and big bridges in the city. Hence, the civic body has now decided to conduct inspection of the remaining 40 bridges on four rivers — Godavari, Waghadi, Nandini and Waldevi — in order to ensure that the condition of these bridges are good.
An NMC official said that apart from these bridges some of the bathing ghats — built during the Kumbh Mela in 2015 — have also been damaged.
“Also, road leading to Goda ghat has developed craters. Plans are being made to repair the damaged structures at the earliest. We have already started cleaning of debris from the ghat areas,” the official said.
The city was lashed with incessant rainfall for almost a fortnight between July 25 and August 10. Also, heavy showers in the catchment areas of Gangapur dam led to release of water into Godavari. Release of thousands of cusec of water swelled Godavari, leading to flooding in the low-lying areas of the city. This damaged several bridges as part of concrete and railings of some bridges were washed away by the floodwaters.
“We have already repaired bridges under the jurisdiction of the NMC. Apart from this, we have also decided to conduct inspection of all bridges on four rivers in the city to ensure that they are safe,” a civic official said.
“We will also take the necessary measures required once the inspection of all the river bridges is over,” added an official. “The defect liability period (DLP) of the bathing ghats was of three years, which is over now. Hence, the NMC has decided to carry out the necessary repair work of the ghats. We have already started cleaning operation at all bathing ghats on Godavari,” the official said. Apart from bathing ghats, the Goda Park project of the NMC on river Godavari was also partially damaged. The NMC has also started the process to clean and repair it.