Pune civic body begins structural audit of statues to assess safety

In the wake of the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg in August, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started a structural audit of statues across the city. The inspection showed that some monuments, especially older ones, require repairs.

Yuvraj Deshmukh, chief engineer, building structure department, PMC, said, “Advanced techniques like ‘ultrasonic tomography test (UST)’ will be used to assess the internal strength of the statues, which appear stable from the outside. This technology will be crucial for statues that are 40-50 years old.

Ultrasound tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique that uses shear waves to create three-dimensional images of an object’s internal structure. The process involves connecting the piezoelectric transducer to the flaw detector and preparing the object by applying gel, water or oil to properly connect it to the transducer. The transducer then moves over the object, sending shear waves through it to map its internal structure without causing any damage. This method is very effective in detecting flaws and weaknesses in various materials.

Pune, often called the cultural capital of Maharashtra, has 80 statues under the jurisdiction of the PMC. In the first stage of the inspection, 25 older monuments were selected for detailed examination. The commune plans to use the most modern equipment and has announced a tender to ensure the implementation of appropriate safety measures.

“The safety of these statues is paramount. While carrying out minor repairs, advanced equipment will help us ensure long-term durability,” Deshmukh said.

Virendra Kelkar, executive engineer, building structures, PMC, said, “We conducted a visual inspection of the statues located in various parts of the city. Now we will conduct an appropriate structural audit of the state by establishing an agency. We will focus on full-length statues.”

The PMC has not conducted any structural audits of public monuments since their installation, raising concerns about their safety and maintenance.

Nowadays, statues are only cleaned and restored on the occasion of anniversaries or important events honoring the people they represent. Painting and cleaning tenders are advertised prior to these occasions, but no inspections or surveys are carried out during the rest of the year.

According to the regulations, monuments cannot be installed on private land without the approval of a state government committee. The plot earmarked for the monument should be in a “non-controversial area” and police approval is required after thorough inspections. In the case of installations on government land, permits are required from the relevant services to ensure that the act does not impede road traffic.