Construction sites must prioritise safety of all

Representation pic

The reinforcement cage of a pier at an under-construction elevated road toppled onto a moving car at a Thane bridge, damaging its front windshield. A woman driver narrowly escaped without injuries, the police said.

While the reinforcement cage is technical for laypersons, it is important to understand that a reinforcement cage of a pier may also be called a pier cage and is a cylindrical or rectangular skeleton made of steel reinforcing bars placed inside a concrete pier or drilled shaft before the concrete is poured.

Taking serious note of the incident at the Anand Nagar-Saket Elevated Road project site, the MMRDA imposed a penalty of Rs 2 crore on the contractor executing the project, our report said.

Further investigations are on, about why this has happened and what exactly are the safety loopholes behind this. Clearing, removal is one aspect so that traffic which in this case was disrupted, could start flowing smoothly.

The bigger, overarching factor though is safety of the public at and around construction sites. This is the ordinary moving public, both pedestrians and commuters using that space.

There has to be absolute emphasis on cordoning off an area where construction is on. If the work means the pavement is compromised, ensure some space nearby so that people can walk safely. Nets, lights, signboards and restraining barriers are a must. One supervisor/manager on ground can act as a safety officer for those negotiating the space.

This particular falling of the pier cage could have caused injuries or even death. Human life is the highest priority; treat it as such.