MSRDC to carry out underwater inspection of Thane creek bridge

In a first, MSRDC is using submersible remotely operated device to inspect a bridge; device will record videos of pillars under water to check extent of damage, if any

In a first, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will be using submersible remotely operated vehicle for carrying out underwater inspection of Thane Creek bridge, one of the oldest bridges in the region. Currently, two bridges run parallel to each other over the Thane Creek. The first bridge with two lanes was thrown open in 1974, but after it showed signs of corrosion, another bridge was constructed, with six lanes, in 1997. 

The second bridge is used by thousands of motorists every day.  MSRDC has invited tenders for underwater inspection and scour survey of Thane Creek Bridge-I along Sion-Panvel Highway. An MSRDC official said, “As part of the inspection, an SRO device will be sent under the water to see if the bridge has undergone scour or damage. This will help us plan repairs if required. This is for the first time we are conducting underwater inspection.”

The SRO device has an inbuilt video camera, which will record the condition of the piers of the bridge below the water which is not visible to human eyes. “The pillars of the bridge are 8-10 metres below the waters and the SRO device will help in going deep below the water where it is not possible to carry out an inspection manually. The main intention of the inspection is to keep the bridge in proper condition so that it’s operational for light motor vehicles,” the official added. MSRDC authorities expect an increase in vehicular traffic on the road in the near future as an international airport is coming up in Navi Mumbai. Considering this, new bridges are being constructed to ease traffic.

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