Kolkata Flyover Crash
This news is now in the headlines and being a member of the construction industry it is very disappointing to see the entire construction fraternity coming into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
A lot of questions have been directed to me from my friends and friends of friends some seeking technical clarity, and some emotional clarification, as to why such tragedies don't seem to go away. As I am neither a Structural Engineer nor a Construction Specialist by qualification ( I am a trainer), I myself have been groping for reasons.
Being from the industry, I also have the privilege of a being a ringside audience to whatsapp groups, which are discussing and debating this tragedy. It only reminds me of that grand Hindi movie - Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro - a black comedy portraying the political and economic machinations behind the Byculla flyover crash of the early 1980's Mumbai
Many analyses - some strongly technical, some purely whimsical are being put forth - as explanations as to why this bridge collapsed. Or was doomed to collapse.
But at the end they all are analysis of visible symptoms - for a disease that plagues and is endemic not just to Indian Construction Industry, but to the entire Indian polity. Though all these discussion groups have time and over again discussed and suggested remedies for these symptoms. Nobody seems to be even talking about the disease. Forget recommending measures to arrest it.
Like always, the various analyses being put forth, are amazingly correct. The delineation of the problems are amazingly perfect. Even the solutions recommended are extremely wise.
Why then if our understanding of the problem being so accurate, our understanding of the solutions so exact do such mishaps keep crossing our paths?
We definitely do have an excellent handle on the problem, but is it because of our miraculous technical competency or is it because we ourselves are a part of the problem?
I am not very sure what we are trying to demonstrate through these whatsapp discussion.
Entrepreneur, Co-Owner at Matrix Networks & Solutions
8 年Even though this is a vey old trade / business , the processes are still not set to avoid any such accidents like this and then politicing , judgemental reactions are in full swing .
Brand Manager | Marketing Communications, Consumer Engagement | ISB, MICA
8 年It's a collective failure. If contractor was at fault, so was government body/other stakeholder who verified the structure upon completion. Loss of lives is painful and degrades human values at highest magnitude. Let's ensure history never repeats in this scenario by adopting strictest of rules.