KOCHI: A day after a portion of the under-construction Moolampilly-Pizhala bridge collapsed into the backwaters, the district administration has decided to constitute an expert committee to investigate the incident.
Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla will convene a meeting on Monday to discuss constitution of the technical committee.
“It needs to be investigated what caused the accident - whether it is structural instability, alignment issues or instability of the land. We are planning to appoint an expert committee comprising chief engineers, consultants and people who have been part of similar projects,” said the Collector.
A possible lapse on the part of the contractor will also be probed, and legal action would be initiated against the contractor if found guilty. “The actual cause of the accident could be ascertained only after receiving the report of the technical team,” said the Collector.
The Moolampilly-Pizhala bridge, one among the three bridges being built to link Chathanad with the Container Terminal Road, collapsed around 5.30 pm on Saturday.
The Rs 120-crore project was scheduled to be completed in June. When completed, the 180-metre bridge will have 21 pillars.
Meanwhile, local residents have registered protest against the alleged delay in launching investigation into the accident, with many raising apprehension the incident would delay the project further.
“Construction of the bridge had commenced around a year ago after several delays. A detailed investigation should be conducted and those responsible for the accident should be brought to book. The authorities should also ensure that the project is not delayed further,” said Balan, a local resident.