The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has called upon engineers in its bridge department to upgrade their technical expertise and adopt contemporary construction technologies to build safer and more durable bridges across Mumbai. The appeal was made by S.C. Gupta, former chief bridge engineer of Central Railway and Mumbai Metro Line 1, during a workshop aimed at strengthening the civic body’s bridge infrastructure capabilities.
Gupta highlighted that increasing traffic volumes, mounting structural stress, environmental pressures and growing public expectations around safety make continuous skill enhancement indispensable. He underlined the importance of embracing advanced construction techniques, modern materials and innovative repair technologies, along with ensuring their effective execution. According to him, future bridge projects must focus on sustainability and long-term durability to address the city’s evolving urban needs.
The bridge department is currently managing several key projects involving the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of flyovers across Mumbai. With traffic density rising and climate patterns turning more unpredictable, the civic administration is prioritising structures that are robust, resilient and safe. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has repeatedly emphasised adherence to the highest quality standards in bridge-related works.
As part of this initiative, a brainstorming workshop for bridge engineers was conducted on February 12 at the engineering complex in Worli. The discussions revolved around structural durability, quality control mechanisms, inspection systems, risk assessment, preventive maintenance and emergency repair planning. Engineers were also instructed to strictly follow national and international benchmarks, including IRC and IS codes, to ensure reliability.
Gupta observed that strengthening technical knowledge directly contributes to public safety, smoother traffic movement and the stability of critical infrastructure, reinforcing the need for structured training and continuous learning within the department.
Source: Hindustan Times
