WATCH: Metro lags behind in reconstructing gas tanker-ravaged bridge
It was also revealed that Prasa had engaged the city and even submitted a quote for the demolition of the council-owned section of the road infrastructure, but the city failed to come to the party.
Almost two years after the Christmas Eve gas tanker disaster in Plantation claimed 41 lives and seriously damaged surrounding infrastructure, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) is still grappling with how and when to rebuild the over- and underpasses of the bridge along Hospital Road and Railway Street.
However, Prasa is on the other hand forging ahead with its R80m rail bridge reconstruction, revealing a lack of coordination between government spheres and their entities.
This was revealed during a recent site visit, attended by Ekurhuleni MMC of Roads and Transport Planning, Andile Mngwevu, and Prasa officials to inspect the progress made by Prasa in reconstructing the city’s damaged railway bridge.
Progress
Prasa’s Mduduzi Khumalo estimated they completed over 65% of the reconstruction project.
The state-owned enterprise commenced the first phases of the project, demolition and design, in December.
Thereafter came construction works, which the agency hopes to complete at least before the end of December, weather permitting.
This estimated completion time also depends on the global flow of supply chain activities.
Fruitless engagement
During the oversight, it was also revealed that Prasa had engaged the city and even submitted a quote for the demolition of the council-owned section of the road infrastructure, but the city failed to come to the party because of bureaucratic and lengthy internal processes.
The CoE concurred that it is lagging far behind in its efforts to do its part, citing red tape as one reason behind the failure to work with Prasa on repairing the much-needed public infrastructure.
Serious implications
It was also pointed out during the site visit that the failure to work together means that by the time the bridge reopens for passenger trains, the city bridge linking Railway Street and Hospital Road will remain closed.
To make matters worse, work to demolish the council-owned portion of the facility is likely to impact the newly constructed railway bridge negatively.
Red tape shackles reconstruction
The City of Ekurhuleni explained that after engagement with Prasa, it took the proposal and a memorandum of understanding to its supply chain management department for approval, but they turned down the request because of fears the amount of money required would trigger audit queries.
The department, therefore, proposed that the CoE put this out on open tender and follow its internal processes to appoint a consultant and eventually a contractor to do the job.
The tender process is now under adjudication and is expected to be finalised by the end of this financial year to allow the city to start the project in the next financial year.
Damage control exercise
The MMC of transport committed to intervene and investigate how the CoE can speed up the process to close the gap between the two reconstruction projects.
Mngwevu even requested an urgent meeting with Prasa to reopen discussions on how best the two parties can work together.
“We can’t have government spheres working in silos. Our people see government as one entity and don’t understand spheres of responsibility.
“They will say the government came to fix the railway bridge and left the road bridge unfixed and unsafe.
“We need to have bilateral talks to move forward together for our people.”
Mngwevu admitted the two parties held a meeting and the CoE agreed they should work together.
“However, I last saw Prasa a year ago and not again.
“I questioned what they are doing on Ekurhuleni land when they are not consulting us. It is a problem.
“But we have now agreed to re-establish that discussion and see how best we work together.”
‘We dragged our feet’
Speaking at the site visit, Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos acknowledged the department’s political head’s intervention.
“Prasa is progressing well and engaged us over time, but we have dragged our feet because of red tape.
“We need to get a grip on this. I think the synergy in this case will happen if we remove the red tape.
“This road is critical because a stretch of Rondebult Road being closed due to a sinkhole.
“The community is complaining about the volume of redirected traffic.
“I would love to see – before Prasa finishes its work – this bridge also repaired, as this may also bring solace to people who lost their loved ones and property here.
The MMC responded: “We are committing to work for our residents and will meet with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that work is done.”
Also Read: WATCH: Reconstruction progress on bridge ruined in gas tanker blast
