Vadodara: Without the report of the approved structural engineer and the Divyang ramp, there will be no permission!

Drawing lessons from the very serious tragedies of Morbi's swinging bridge and Gambhira bridge collapse near Padra earlier in Gujarat, the state government has taken a very stringent stand by radically changing the safety rules to ensure the safety of people and property during Navratri. As thousands and lakhs of players and spectators gather during Navratri in Vadodara, the R&B department has made structural stability certificate mandatory for the temporary Garba stage and pavilion. In order to prevent the recurrence of past incidents of stage collapse, the administration has issued a 10-point agency self-check list and is in the process of seeking a strict guarantee sheet from all the major garba organizers. Earlier, permissions were given by the R&B department for a big garba in Navratri only by physical inspection. But after accidents like Morbi and Gambhira Bridge, it has become mandatory for the garba organizers to submit a structural stability certificate from a government-approved structural engineer as per the government norms. In this regard, it was learned from reliable sources that details have been sought from 41 major garba organizers. Out of which 25 organizers have taken up the process. Certificates have been given to 13 organizers. Certificates have been given. The application of 12 organizers is pending, while 16 organizers have not yet taken any action. Public safety cannot be compromised as thousands of people gather around the stage in the garba. The R&B team conducts a joint inspection with the certificate of the Government Approved Structural Engineer. Dead load and live load are scientifically calculated as per the engineering criteria for the stability certificate. Under dead load, the weight of the iron-pipe of the stage, the weight of the sound system, speakers, large LED screen and lighting truss, while in the live load, the total weight of the singers, performers and spectators present on the stage at the same time is measured whether the pipe or channel section used for stage support is capable of carrying the load. The structural engineer appointed by the organisers will have to visit the stage and submit a technical report, after which the team of the Roads and Buildings Department will inspect the venue in person and issue the final certificate. On the other hand, as per the government guidelines, it has been made mandatory for the disabled and wheelchair holders to provide at least one side ramp facility on the stage. Apart from this, it has been made mandatory for safe stairs to have a minimum of 300 mm (30 cm) and a raiser (staircase height) of a maximum of 150 mm (15 cm).

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