PWD to hire consultant to audit Signature Bridge

New Delhi: Public Works Department has approved a proposal to engage a consultant to conduct a comprehensive structural audit and prepare a maintenance methodology for Signature Bridge to ensure its health and structural stability.PWD minister Parvesh Verma said, "It is unfortunate that Signature Bridge went without a structural audit for more than seven years. Public safety cannot be ignored.” Officials said the cost of engaging a consultant would be Rs 17.5 lakh.Govt will also evaluate the status of its slanting lifts, he added. The consultant will assess the feasibility of making the slanting lifts operational for public use. Based on the report, necessary steps will be taken for repairs, rehabilitation and maintenance, Verma said.The project was executed by Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation and was to be handed over to PWD as DTTDC did not have budget for its maintenance. Following its long pending requests, the bridge was handed over to PWD earlier this year.PWD has directed the engineer-in-charge to ensure that the consultancy work is completed on time.