Earlier this month, a massive tragedy struck Gujarat when a portion of the Mujpur-Ghambira bridge collapsed into the swollen Mahisagar river, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens. For residents in the Padra taluka of Vadodara district, it wasn’t just an accident — it was a catastrophe waiting to happen. Many had repeatedly flagged safety concerns over the bridge’s condition, warning about cracks, tilting support structures, and uneven load distribution.

Those warnings, they say, were either ignored or dismissed with token responses by the authorities.

And this isn’t a one-off case.

In the last four years, Gujarat has witnessed at least six major bridge collapses — a staggering statistic that raises serious questions about infrastructure integrity, inspection mechanisms, and government accountability.

⚠️ Mujpur-Ghambira Bridge: The Latest in a Series of Disasters

The bridge, a key connector over the Mahisagar river, collapsed on July 11, 2025, after days of heavy rain. Eyewitnesses say the structure began to shake and give way slowly before a major segment plunged into the river below.

Locals had reportedly warned the Public Works Department (PWD) about the bridge’s deteriorating condition months before the accident. Some say government engineers even acknowledged the issue during a routine inspection — but no repair was carried out.

• A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which was consulted due to the structural engineering similarities with elevated runways, pointed to crushing of pedestals and articulation joints as the primary cause of the collapse.

📉 The Pattern of Collapse: Six Bridges in Four Years

This isn’t an isolated event. Here are just some of the bridge disasters Gujarat has seen since 2021:

1. Morbi Bridge (2022) – Over 135 lives lost in one of India’s worst bridge accidents in recent history. A suspension bridge collapsed days after reopening post-renovation.

2. Mansa Bridge (2023) – A vital overpass in Gandhinagar district gave way, injuring 17. A government probe cited poor welding and metal fatigue.

3. Bharuch Overbridge (2024) – Crumbled during a monsoon deluge; no casualties but exposed serious design flaws.

4. Surendranagar Rail Overbridge (2022) – Collapsed during construction; 2 workers killed.

5. Junagadh Culvert (2021) – Washed away during floods; flagged previously for erosion-prone foundation.

Together with Mujpur-Ghambira, these collapses highlight systemic flaws — not just isolated engineering failures.

🛠️ Ignored Warnings, Deferred Repairs

In the Mujpur-Ghambira case, residents repeatedly sent letters and complaints to local civic bodies and the district administration, warning about:

• Deep cracks on the surface

• Tilted pillars after last monsoon

• Waterlogging and erosion near the foundations

Yet, no public tender was issued for repairs, and no barricades or load restrictions were placed on the bridge.

According to Right to Information (RTI) replies accessed by this publication, the last full structural audit of the bridge was conducted in 2017, despite a 2019 state order mandating biennial inspections of all critical bridges.

🧑‍🔬 Expert Warnings Were Also Unheeded

Structural engineers like Dr. Anil Vora of the Indian Institute of Engineers have long warned about Gujarat’s aging bridge infrastructure. “The state is sitting on a time bomb,” Dr. Vora said in a recent seminar.

He added, “Many bridges were built in the late 80s and early 90s without modern load-bearing calculations. Continued neglect, delayed maintenance, and overloaded traffic are a lethal combination.”

🏛️ Accountability — Still Missing

The government has ordered an inquiry, suspended two junior engineers, and promised a full structural audit of all district bridges within 90 days.

But critics argue this is part of a pattern of post-tragedy reactions, where inquiries lead to temporary outrage, followed by inaction.

Congress leader Amit Chavda said, “This is Morbi all over again. The BJP government has learned nothing. Lives are lost, families destroyed — and the ministers just offer condolences and move on.”

Civil society groups have demanded:

• Criminal proceedings against responsible engineers and contractors

• Real-time public dashboards showing bridge safety data

• Community participation in inspection feedback

🔍 Legal Loopholes and Tender Politics

A major obstacle in fixing Gujarat’s infrastructure crisis is the opaque tendering process.

In many recent cases, bridges were awarded to blacklisted or ineligible contractors through shell companies. Politicians have allegedly shielded these entities from scrutiny.

In the Morbi disaster, for example, the bridge maintenance was outsourced to a clock-making firm, which had no civil engineering background.

Legal experts point to Section 304A of IPC (causing death by negligence) as insufficient. They are calling for a dedicated Bridge Safety Act, similar to railway safety protocols, that lays down minimum engineering, auditing, and accountability standards.

🧱 The Big Infrastructure Paradox

Gujarat has long prided itself on being an “infrastructure-forward” state. It boasts highways, high-speed rail, and mega ports. But this emphasis on new construction has often neglected old assets, many of which are now crumbling.

State audit reports reveal that over 23% of bridges in Gujarat are over 30 years old, yet less than 15% have undergone a full rehabilitation.

“There’s glamour in ribbon-cutting,” says a retired IAS officer who once headed Gujarat’s urban development department. “But real governance lies in upkeep — and there, the state has failed.”

🧭 The Road Ahead: Prevention, Not Reaction

To prevent future tragedies, experts recommend:

1. Mandatory Annual Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) using sensors and AI

2. Whistleblower protection for engineers who flag unsafe structures

3. Third-party audits from reputed engineering institutes like IITs

4. GPS-linked load monitors to prevent overweight trucks

5. Public access to bridge safety scores through QR codes on the bridge itself

Gujarat, like much of India, is entering an era where climate change, urban stress, and overuse are pushing aging infrastructure beyond its limits. Without proactive repair and reform, more lives will be lost — and headlines will repeat themselves.

🏁 Conclusion: From Grief to Accountability

The collapse of the Mujpur-Ghambira bridge is a grim reminder that development without safety is a hollow pursuit.

As families mourn the 20 lives lost, the real tribute lies not in compensation cheques or memorial plaques, but in ensuring that such disasters are never repeated.

Infrastructure is not just concrete and steel — it is public trust. And Gujarat’s bridges, tragically, are falling through the cracks.

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