PMC Approves Rs 1.18 Crore Tender for Structural Audit of Bridges Across Pune
Pune, 5th July 2025: In a significant move aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure safety, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a ₹1.18 crore tender to conduct a structural audit of bridges across the city. The decision comes in the wake of a tragic bridge collapse in Maval’s Kundamala last month, which claimed four lives and left 32 injured.
The tender, awarded to Structonic Consulting Engineers, will cover inspections of river bridges, railway flyovers, culverts over drains, and other elevated structures within the municipal limits.
Audit Triggered by Kundamala Bridge Collapse
On June 15, an iron culvert bridge over the Indrayani River in Kundamala, Maval taluka, collapsed, prompting urgent concerns about the condition and safety of similar structures across Pune. The incident echoed past tragedies like the Savitri River bridge collapse, and revived public and political demand for proactive safety measures.
Slow Progress in Ongoing Repairs
While PMC had earlier initiated a structural audit program, progress has been sluggish. Out of 86 large and 170 small bridges in Pune, only 38 have undergone structural auditing so far. Of these, only 11 bridges have been repaired based on audit findings. The rest remain in various stages of neglect or pending evaluation.
“Following the June 15 accident, the urgency to assess bridge safety cannot be overstated,” said a senior PMC official. “This tender approval will accelerate the structural audit process for bridges that are still pending inspection.”
Bridge Infrastructure Overview
Total major bridges in Pune: 61
River bridges: 32
Flyovers: 20
Railway flyovers: 9
Audits completed: 38 bridges (since 2021)
Repairs completed: 11 bridges
Pending audits: 23 major bridges + 170 small bridges and culverts
Historical Audit Timeline
2013–14: 18 bridges audited
2018–19: 12 bridges and flyovers inspected
2021: Audit of 38 bridges aged over 20 years
2025: Tender floated for remaining bridges; lowest bid of ₹1.18 crore by Structonic Consulting Engineers approved
