NHAI clean chit to Gammon, Hyundai in Kota bridge collapse

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has given a clean chit to construction firms Gammon India and Hyundai Engineering in the collapse of the bridge over Chambal river here which killed 30 people.

"We have not found Gammon India and Hyundai guilty in the Chambal bridge collapse," NHAI Chairman Brijeshawar Singh told reporters at the rescue operations site yesterday.

To a query on blacklisting the companies he said, "We must follow a procedure based on proof to blacklist."

Singh said that there had been "some technical reasons" behind the collapse which would come out only after the debris are removed and investigation completed.

To get to the actual reason for the incident, the iron ropes recovered from the wreckage and the quality of iron used would be thoroughly probed, he said.

The Chairman said two NHAI officials had been booked under section 304 (culpable homicide) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC.

A four-member committee set up by the authority will go into the collapse which claimed the lives of 30 people.

Singh said the project would now be delayed by 9 to 12 months and is expected to be completed by December 2011.