The collapse of a flyover in Kolkata caused several deaths. Its construction started in 2009 and there were problems from the start. There was delay due to the failure of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority to ascertain where one ramp would land. Then the firm did not get permission from the Kolkata Port Trust for use of the land for the other ramp. Engineers were baffled. The fact is that the roads in north Kolkata are narrow and congested. They are also asymmetrical. It is inexplicable why construction was allowed in the daytime. There were structural and design flaws. There was no proper maintenance and material was substandard. IVRCL which was in charge of the construction is not trusted by the Railway Ministry.
The Kolkata disaster is evidence of the infrastructural flaws in the Metro cities and this is at a time when smart cities are on the way. Such talk does not hide lack of planning and regulations. There should be strict norms and standards. Violations should be severely punished. Otherwise safety cannot be ensured. It is only to be expected that in Kolkata the political blame game has started right on the eve of the Assembly Elections.
It is encouraging that some prominent members of the rolling Trinamool Party have been critical of official inefficiency.
Twenty six lives have been lost on account of the flyover collapse but no one is talking about compensation to their family members. With election hanging heavy in the air everyone is trying to win brownie points by playing the blame game but quite forgetting the human casualties. This incident should serve as an example to all construction companies not to do sub-standard work and get away with doing so. The penalty levied on IVRCL must be exemplary so that such slipshod jobs are not tolerated.