CST bridge collapse: India needs the best alternative for safe  civic infrastructure
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

CST bridge collapse: India needs the best alternative for safe civic infrastructure

In a horrifying incident on March 14 in Mumbai, at least six people were killed and about 36 injured when the bridge near the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station collapsed. 

This tragic foot-over-bridge collapse, along with several other bridge collapses witnessed in the past few years, has once again brought the country’s aging civic infrastructure into the harsh spotlight. 

The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), India’s apex stainless steel body, has reiterated the importance of choosing the best alternative for strengthening the country’s social infrastructure. “There is a need to choose the best material for safe and maintenance-free infrastructure in the country,” asserts KK Pahuja, President, ISSDA. “We appeal to local civic authorities and other concerned departments to adopt stainless steel in all infrastructure projects, as it will enhance life-cycle and durability. The Indian Railways is already relying on stainless steel for its upcoming infrastructure along with other utilities. A case in point is the proposed stainless steel foot-over-bridge at Bhayandar station in Mumbai by the Indian Railways.” He adds that ISSDA is ready to provide full support in the form of technical knowhow and hand-holding to the government and civic authorities in this matter.

According to industry data, around 135,000 rail bridges exist in India, of which nearly 25 per cent are over 100 years old and need immediate replacement. Although over 1,000 bridges are rehabilitated every year, there is a huge backlog in rebuilding these bridges. Also, India has a coastline of 7,500 km, which mandates the need for stainless steel infrastructure. Given the high airborne salts in marine environments, bridges in these areas are exposed to rapid corrosion and are vulnerable to collapse.

In the current ecosystem, infrastructure requires easy design and fabrication, reduced life-cycle cost, resistance to corrosion and fire, high strength-to-weight ratio, and quick turnaround time for project completion. 

All these properties are inherent to stainless steel, making it the optimum choice for the nation’s infrastructure.

In a horrifying incident on March 14 in Mumbai, at least six people were killed and about 36 injured when the bridge near the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station collapsed. This tragic foot-over-bridge collapse, along with several other bridge collapses witnessed in the past few years, has once again brought the country’s aging civic infrastructure into the harsh spotlight. The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), India’s apex stainless steel body, has reiterated the importance of choosing the best alternative for strengthening the country’s social infrastructure. “There is a need to choose the best material for safe and maintenance-free infrastructure in the country,” asserts KK Pahuja, President, ISSDA. “We appeal to local civic authorities and other concerned departments to adopt stainless steel in all infrastructure projects, as it will enhance life-cycle and durability. The Indian Railways is already relying on stainless steel for its upcoming infrastructure along with other utilities. A case in point is the proposed stainless steel foot-over-bridge at Bhayandar station in Mumbai by the Indian Railways.” He adds that ISSDA is ready to provide full support in the form of technical knowhow and hand-holding to the government and civic authorities in this matter.According to industry data, around 135,000 rail bridges exist in India, of which nearly 25 per cent are over 100 years old and need immediate replacement. Although over 1,000 bridges are rehabilitated every year, there is a huge backlog in rebuilding these bridges. Also, India has a coastline of 7,500 km, which mandates the need for stainless steel infrastructure. Given the high airborne salts in marine environments, bridges in these areas are exposed to rapid corrosion and are vulnerable to collapse.In the current ecosystem, infrastructure requires easy design and fabrication, reduced life-cycle cost, resistance to corrosion and fire, high strength-to-weight ratio, and quick turnaround time for project completion. All these properties are inherent to stainless steel, making it the optimum choice for the nation’s infrastructure.

Next Story
Technology

AirBrick Infra Sets Rs 1 billion Target, Expands to Dubai and Tier-II Cities

AirBrick Infra, one of India’s fastest-growing AI-led commercial interior design and build firms, has announced a sales order target of Rs 1 billion for FY 2025–26. The projection represents a 50 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year and reflects rising demand, increased repeat business, and the company's robust tech-first delivery model.  Now in its third year of operations, AirBrick continues its rapid scale-up, having successfully delivered over 70 projects spanning 3 lakh sq ft in FY 2023–24. FY 2024–25 witnessed the onboarding of several Fortune 500 clients, sett..

Next Story
Resources

Virtusa Foundation Powers Green Education Drive in Bengaluru

The Virtusa Foundation, CSR arm of digital engineering and technology leader Virtusa Corporation, has announced key infrastructure and mobility initiatives at the Ramakrishna Mission, Shivanahalli, Bengaluru. The launch marks the inauguration of a 16-room residential facility for lady teachers and the deployment of two solar-powered electric buses, underscoring Virtusa’s commitment to its core pillars of Education, Environment and Empowerment (3Es).  Located on the forest fringe near Bannerghatta National Park, the initiative supports tribal and underserved communities, complementi..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Godrej Enterprises Drives India’s Smart Green Logistics Shift

As India accelerates its transformation into a global manufacturing and logistics hub, Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) is taking the lead with its smart, sustainable intralogistics solutions. Through its Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and Storage Solutions businesses, GEG is redefining operational efficiency in modern warehouses and factories using IoT, automation, and AI. GEG has consistently maintained a 20–25 per cent market share in the intralogistics sector over the past three years. Today, over 37 per cent of GEG’s revenues come from its Good & Green portfolio, and its net..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?