At architects’ meet,makeshift stall collapses,seven injured

In his address to the convention,Bhujbal said,“In the case of new constructions,public works department needs to bring in innovation instead of continuing with stereotypes. Architects have to play a vital role in the modern development.” Vijay Sohoni,president,Council of Architecture,said the Architects Act of India needs to be amended as it has become obsolete in today’s context. “Also the process of tenders for construction needs to be looked into. Instead of looking for quality and potential,a person who can quote the least amount is picked to do the work. Do we go to a doctor or a lawyer depending upon who charges the least?” questioned Sohoni.

He later added that if architects are included in the planning of a city,situations like Pune becoming a lake will not arise. Bhujbal,who also visited Phule wada in Budhwar Peth area,said a statute of Savitribai Phule would be installed at historical Samata Bhoomi at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule memorial by November 28 Jyotiba Phule’s death anniversary. Bhujbal said there has been a demand from locals for the statue at the memorial. He urged the Pune Municipal Corporation to speed up the development work at the wada. The minister also said the state has temporarily stopped contractors from collecting toll on few of the state highways as the road condition has deteriorated and no repair work was done.