In order to lodge their protest, around 42 engineers from the bridge department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have collectively decided to go on mass leave from Thursday for the next 15 days. They took decision after former chief engineer from the bridge department was arrested in CSMT foot overbridge collapse. This is likely to affect the bridge works as several minor and major repair works of bridges and FOBs are underway across Mumbai.
Sainath Rajadhyaksha, executive president of BMC Engineers Union confirmed that engineers spontaneously took decision to go on mass leave. Earlier, they staged protest on Wednesday afternoon at BMC's Worli Engineering Hub.
They demanded that the arrest should be stopped as the cause of bridge collapse has not yet been established. They said that they are discontent with the arrest of S O Kori, former chief engineer of bridge department of BMC. Kori was in-charge of the department until he retired in July last year.
Meanwhile, the engineers unions will hold a meeting at Shirodkar School in Parel on Thursday to discuss further course of action. "We had met municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Wednesday morning and expressed our discontent over the arrest of former chief engineer," said Rajadhyaksha.
Engineers claimed that Kori was an upright officer and he was very straight forward. Rajadhyaksha said that this is very unfortunate that police are arresting engineer despite reason of bridge collapse is not known. "We apprised our concern with civic chief and we will decide further course of action," said Rajadhyaksha.
Sukhdeo Kashid, president of Municipal Engineers Association said that police action is objectionable and we conveyed this message to civic chief. "The police has sought civic chief permission ti file charge sheet against engineers arrest. We have demanded that BMC's internal enquiry should be carried out instead of police enquiry," said Kashid. He added that over 1000 engineers will participate in May 9 meeting in Parel and future course of action will be decided.
