Crack on road: Disciplinary action on two SMC officers

Surat: Three days after the damage to the approach road of Ved Variav bridge happened, disciplinary actions have been ordered against two junior officials of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday. Supervisor Jay Patel has been issued show cause notice while technical assistant Dinesh Lad has been suspended. A departmental inquiry has been ordered against the two officers. During preliminary findings, both the officials were found negligent and behaving nonchalantly towards their duty. Considering it a serious lapse in duty the actions have been taken. “The damage to the road has dented the image of SMC and the officials are found responsible for it,” said a statement by the civic body on Saturday. The damage to the road was highlighted by AAP workers from the area. It should be noted that the four lane 1.5km-long bridge was inaugurated on May 18. Cracks were noticed in around 25-metre-long elevated portion of a road approaching Ved Variav bridge. There were cracks and some portions had settled a few inches separating from the remaining road. The separated portion went down. It was claimed by the officials that the road has a rivulet on one side, while on the other there are farms. Officials claimed that draining of water could have led to settlement of soil. The road was elevated using soil to connect the road and bridge’s approach. It is the 120th bridge of the city that has been developed at the cost of Rs 118 crore and claimed to have benefited around eight lakh people at time of inauguration. Earlier the residents had to take a longer route of around 7.5 km to cross the river from other bridges.