Latest news with #Roads&BuildingsDepartment
India Gazette
13-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel approves 212 crore for new two-lane high-level bridge near Mujpur
ANI 13 Jul 2025, 21:39 GMT+10 Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 13 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has granted administrative approval to the Roads and Buildings Department for the construction of a new two-lane bridge over the Mahi River near Mujpur in Padra taluka, Vadodara district. This bridge will connect Padra and Anklav. According to the release, a detailed project report was recently prepared by the Roads & Buildings Department after surveying the parallel bridge to the accident-affected structure. Following the unfortunate collapse of the existing bridge--which disrupted connectivity between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra and posed challenges for local commuters and students--the Chief Minister swiftly approved this new project. Superintending Engineer N. V. Rathva informed that the existing two-lane Mujpur approach road will be widened to a four-lane road with a width of 7 meters. The 4.2 km stretch from the highway to the bridge will also be expanded to four lanes. A new two-lane high-level bridge will be constructed parallel to the collapsed one. The Chief Minister has approved administrative sanction of 212 crore for these works, which are targeted for completion within 18 months. The tendering process for the project has already commenced. (ANI)
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
New two-lane bridge near Mujpur village in 18 months, Gujarat govt starts process
The Gujarat government has started the process to build a new two-lane high level bridge on Mahi river near Mujpur village in Vadodara district's Padra taluka at a cost of Rs 212 crore, stated an official release on Sunday. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had given an in-principle approval to build the bridge in November 2024 and the tendering process has begun to build the bridge in 18 months, the release added. The new bridge, which will connect Padra to Anklav, will stand parallel to the recently collapsed bridge in which at least 20 people were killed. The government on Sunday also said that it has disbursed financial aid to the victims and the relatives of the deceased in the bridge collapse incident. Meanwhile search continued for the fifth day for 22-year-old Vikram Padhiyar from Narsingpura village of Anklav taluka who was on his way to Padra town with his friend Rajesh Chavda, where both worked in an electrical unit when their motorbike fell off the broken bridge. Chavda's body has been found while there is no trace of Padhiyar yet. The release stated, 'A detailed project report was recently prepared by the Roads & Buildings Department after conducting a survey. And it was given an in-principle approval by the Chief Minister.' 'During this time, owing to the bridge collapse accident, issues of connecting central Gujarat with Saurashtra, employment of locals and commuting of students had cropped up. In view of that, the CM has given instructions to immediately build the bridge,' it also stated. As explained by Superintending Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department, N V Rathva, the existing two-lane Mujpur approach road will be widened to a 7-metre four-lane road, the release stated. The 4.2 km stretch from the highway to the bridge will also be expanded to four lanes. The state government also said that it disbursed financial aid worth Rs 62 lakh to families of the deceased and the victims of the Gambhira bridge collapse. An official release by the government read: 'The State Government…has extended compassionate support to the families affected and injured in the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge accident. As part of the announced financial assistance, cheques totalling Rs 62 lakh were distributed today. This includes Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, handed over by MP Jasubhai Rathva and MLA Shri Chaitanyasinh Zala.' It added, 'Considering the seriousness of the incident, this aid was approved immediately and disbursed without delay. As per the current list, cheques totaling Rs 62 lakh have been distributed, covering four injured individuals and the families of 15 deceased.' With the state authorities having confirmed 20 deaths, one person, identified as Vikram Padhiyar, remained missing as on Sunday. Padhiyar had set out on a motorbike with his cousin Rajesh Chavda to their workplace in Padra. Chavda's body was found. Following the tragedy, four engineers of the Roads and Buildings Department were suspended.
The Print
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Gujarat to Bihar to Pune, India's bridges are collapsing. Cutting corners on safety
At least 12 people have died in the collapse of the Gambhira bridge, which connects central Gujarat to the Saurashtra region. Now, reports suggest that local residents had raised concerns about the safety of the bridge years ago, but no action was taken. 'I was screaming for help. There were seven passengers in our van. We left at 6.30 am and reached the bridge around 7. When we were crossing, a portion collapsed, causing many vehicles to fall into the river,' said Padhiyar. New Delhi: Thirty-five-year-old Sonal Padhiyar set out from Vadodara early Thursday morning with her husband and two young children to visit a temple in Bagdana, Bhavnagar. Just a few kilometres into the 280 km journey, the trip came to a horrific end. The Gambhira bridge collapsed, and their van plunged into the Mahisagar river, killing her four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. The Gambhira bridge is only the latest in a series of such incidents. India's bridges have been collapsing for years, pointing to a larger problem plaguing our infrastructure projects. Lack of safety measures and widespread corruption in public works contracts, especially in local civic projects, is rampant. This neglect is costing innocent lives. India can't call itself a future economic superpower without getting its basic civic infrastructure right. And that is why the recent bridge collapses are ThePrint Newsmaker of the Week. In June this year, a 30-year-old bridge collapsed in Pune, killing four people. In Bihar last year, 10 bridges collapsed within just over two weeks. Several of these bridges fell before they were even inaugurated, raising serious questions about the quality of materials used and the role of contractors. Many have alleged that tenders are won through bribes. On 9 July, as the Gambhira bridge gave way, a van, a tanker, an autorickshaw, and multiple two-wheelers were swept into the river. Among the dead were two children, their father, a man on his way to work, and an entire family headed to the temple. Sonalben Padhiyar was the only survivor. The Gujarat government has declared it a tragedy and initiated the investigation, but this too is part of the same cycle: warnings get ignored, tragedy strikes, an inquiry is ordered, sometimes compensation is announced. Then there's silence—until the next collapse. The Gambhira bridge was built in 1985. Letters of warning about cracks and corroded slabs had been sent to the Roads & Buildings Department as early as 2021. In 2022, the bridge had reportedly been deemed unfit for use, but not even a warning was sent out to the residents. Every day, people crossed the bridge, unaware of the danger that lay beneath their feet In Gujarat's Morbi bridge collapse, around 135 people had lost their lives. That was nearly three years ago. And yet, here we are again. Also Read: 4 dead, 32 injured in bridge collapse over Indrayani River near Pune, 10-15 people feared swept away Safety and infrastructure The Modi government has been heavily promoting its 'Viksit Bharat' vision. From expressways to metros, from Setu Bharatam to PM Gati Shakti, India has seen a massive infrastructure push. Mega projects like the Chenab bridge and marquee freight corridors are underway, but the foundation beneath it all is crumbling. A survey by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2017 reported that over 6,500 bridges on national highways were in a 'distressed' condition, with 20 bridges over a century old being decommissioned as an urgent priority. 'Visual as well as equipment-based periodical inspection, evaluation and monitoring has been mandated for NHs, including bridges, to ensure that structural integrity of various components…is maintained through timely repair/rehabilitation intervention,' the ministry said in a Lok Sabha reply last November. But the care and maintenance for such infrastructure still faces neglect. At the local level, it's either a paucity of funds or a lack of urgency. Accountability in the tendering process is weak, and private contractors have created a dangerous ecosystem of cutting costs for more profits. In many cases, contracts are not given on the merit of the contractor but on the basis of political connections or under-the-table payments. Many evade the burden of following safety protocols and facing audits by paying bribes. Safety certificates are manipulated, mandatory site inspections and load tests are also often rigged. India is building time bombs and the system appears to be designed to reward speed and cost-cutting, not safety. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana Govt Sanctions Rs 121.92 Cr for High-Level Road Bridge Across Jurala Project: Farmers and Leaders Welcome Landmark Development
Gadwal: In a significant infrastructure development, the Government of Telangana has sanctioned ₹121.92 crores for the construction of a High-Level Road Bridge (HLRB) across the Krishna River, downstream of the Priyadarshini Jurala Project. This bridge will connect Revulapally village in Dharur Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal District, with Nandimalla village in Amarchinta Mandal, Wanaparthy District. A Government Order ( was issued on July 1, 2025, by the Transport, Roads & Buildings Department (R&B), marking the official administrative sanction for the project. The announcement has sparked widespread appreciation and celebrations across the Gadwal constituency, especially among the farming community and local leadership who had long awaited improved connectivity across the river. Ministers Honored for Fulfilling Their Promise Congress Gadwal Constituency In-Charge Smt. Sarithamma expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, District In-Charge Minister Damodar Narasimha, District Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, and MP Mallu Ravi. She acknowledged their commitment and swift action in turning a long-pending demand into reality by issuing the G.O. shortly after visiting the project site. According to Sarithamma, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, during his recent visit to the Jurala Project on Sunday, had promised that the Government Order for the High-Level Road Bridge would be issued without delay. True to his word, the G.O. was promptly issued, signaling the start of this crucial infrastructure work. In a statement released from the Congress Party Camp Office in Gadwal, Sarithamma conveyed thanks to the government on behalf of the people and farmers of the Gadwal constituency, recognizing this as a long-awaited and much-needed step toward regional development. MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy Also Expresses Gratitude Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy also extended his sincere appreciation to the state leadership. He thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, District In-Charge Minister Damodar Narasimha, Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao, Vakiti Srihari, and MP Mallu Ravi on behalf of the farmers and people of Gadwal constituency. He noted that the bridge will provide a crucial connection between remote villages on both sides of the Krishna River and significantly boost transportation, agriculture logistics, and emergency access, especially during floods or monsoon season. A Bridge of Development and Connectivity The sanctioned High-Level Road Bridge will not only facilitate better movement between the districts of Jogulamba Gadwal and Wanaparthy but is also expected to spur socio-economic development in the region. Once completed, the bridge will eliminate dependency on longer routes or temporary crossings and will particularly benefit farmers, traders, and students. The project aligns with the Telangana Government's broader vision of improving rural infrastructure and regional connectivity. The Chief Engineer (R&B) State Roads & CRN, Hyderabad, has been directed to prepare detailed estimates for the construction and submit them for further action. This development is being seen as a major achievement for the people of the Gadwal constituency and a fulfillment of a long-standing demand that promises to enhance both accessibility and prosperity in the region.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana Govt Sanctions ₹121.92 Cr for High-Level Road Bridge Across Jurala Project: Farmers and Leaders Welcome Landmark Development
Gadwal: In a significant infrastructure development, the Government of Telangana has sanctioned ₹121.92 crores for the construction of a High-Level Road Bridge (HLRB) across the Krishna River, downstream of the Priyadarshini Jurala Project. This bridge will connect Revulapally village in Dharur Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal District, with Nandimalla village in Amarchinta Mandal, Wanaparthy District. A Government Order ( was issued on July 1, 2025, by the Transport, Roads & Buildings Department (R&B), marking the official administrative sanction for the project. The announcement has sparked widespread appreciation and celebrations across the Gadwal constituency, especially among the farming community and local leadership who had long awaited improved connectivity across the river. Ministers Honored for Fulfilling Their Promise Congress Gadwal Constituency In-Charge Smt. Sarithamma expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, District In-Charge Minister Damodar Narasimha, District Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, and MP Mallu Ravi. She acknowledged their commitment and swift action in turning a long-pending demand into reality by issuing the G.O. shortly after visiting the project site. According to Sarithamma, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, during his recent visit to the Jurala Project on Sunday, had promised that the Government Order for the High-Level Road Bridge would be issued without delay. True to his word, the G.O. was promptly issued, signaling the start of this crucial infrastructure work. In a statement released from the Congress Party Camp Office in Gadwal, Sarithamma conveyed thanks to the government on behalf of the people and farmers of the Gadwal constituency, recognizing this as a long-awaited and much-needed step toward regional development. MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy Also Expresses Gratitude Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy also extended his sincere appreciation to the state leadership. He thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, District In-Charge Minister Damodar Narasimha, Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao, Vakiti Srihari, and MP Mallu Ravi on behalf of the farmers and people of Gadwal constituency. He noted that the bridge will provide a crucial connection between remote villages on both sides of the Krishna River and significantly boost transportation, agriculture logistics, and emergency access, especially during floods or monsoon season. A Bridge of Development and Connectivity The sanctioned High-Level Road Bridge will not only facilitate better movement between the districts of Jogulamba Gadwal and Wanaparthy but is also expected to spur socio-economic development in the region. Once completed, the bridge will eliminate dependency on longer routes or temporary crossings and will particularly benefit farmers, traders, and students. The project aligns with the Telangana Government's broader vision of improving rural infrastructure and regional connectivity. The Chief Engineer (R&B) State Roads & CRN, Hyderabad, has been directed to prepare detailed estimates for the construction and submit them for further action. This development is being seen as a major achievement for the people of the Gadwal constituency and a fulfillment of a long-standing demand that promises to enhance both accessibility and prosperity in the region.
