Instead of spending crores of rupees on appointing consultants for each and every project, make a panel of BMC engineers, demanded all-party councillors in the Standing Committee meeting on Friday. The demand was made on the background of a proposal to appoint a new consultant to re-audit bridges in the south Island of the city. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation spends around Rs 7,000 to 8,000 crores on various infrastructure projects every year. The civic body appoints a consultant for most of the project be it roads construction, bridges, water tunnels, stormwater drainage system or the coastal road and spend crores of rupees as consultation charges. After Savitri Bridge collapse incident, the civic body appointed three different consultants to inspect bridges from Western and Eastern suburbs and City area. After Himalaya bridge collapse on March 14, the BMC blacklisted D D Desai's firm and made a proposal to appoint a new consultant for the bridges in the south part of the city. The proposal comes for approval of the standing committee meeting on Friday. Up till now, 29 bridges found dilapidated in the audit and re-audit reports. Councillors oppose the move of appointing a new consultant. "Private consultant is responsible for the poor status of the city's bridges. No one knows how many bridges are closed, how many are in a dangerous condition," said Asif Zakaria, Corporator from the Congress. Abhijeet Samant from BJP accused that there is a lobby of consultants and engineers in the BMC and demanded a separate panel of BMC engineers. "Citizens faced traffic jam for several days after the closure of Ghatkopar bridge. If any mishap would happen who would be held responsible?" asked Rakhi Jadhav from Nationalist Congress Party. Kamlesh Yadar, BJP Corporator from Kandivali echoed the voice and told that same situation to arise in Kandivali after the closure of Bridge without any planning and intimation. "The administration is doing nothing even after so many Mumbaikar loss their lives in various incidents," said Rais Sheikh from Samajwadi Party. Corporators across the party line demanded to scrap the system to appoint outsider consultant as there is still chaos even after spending crores of rupees on consultants. Background The demand was made on the background of a proposal to appoint a new consultant to re-audit bridges in the Island city

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.