What Measures Are Being Taken for Bridge Safety Inspections in Jamnagar and Narmada?

Jamnagar/Narmada, July 14 (NationPress) Following the recent unfortunate bridge incident in Gujarat, senior government officials have initiated a comprehensive inspection initiative statewide on Monday, concentrating on detecting structural deficiencies and averting future accidents.

In Jamnagar, Municipal Corporation Commissioner D.N. Modi, accompanied by his technical team, evaluated the bridge near Dhuaav in the city. He highlighted that there are 27 bridges under the jurisdiction of the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation. Two distinct technical teams have been inspecting these bridges for the past two days and have submitted their assessments. He instructed officials to ensure that roads in poor condition are promptly repaired and leveled with road rollers to maintain safe access.

A significant focus is the bridge situated outside Kalavad Naka, which is over 40 years old and has deteriorated severely. Due to its precarious condition, the Municipal Corporation has prohibited heavy vehicles from using the bridge; only two-wheelers are allowed. Officials have been tasked with placing clear signage to communicate these restrictions effectively.

This thorough inspection campaign is a response to the Gambhira Bridge tragedy, after which the Gujarat government imposed a ban on heavy-vehicle traffic on vulnerable bridges across the state. Immediate inspections were mandated in every district to prevent similar incidents. Technical teams were rapidly dispatched, and efforts began as soon as they reached Jamnagar.

A dedicated team from the Road and Building Department in Gandhinagar has also undertaken safety evaluations of several bridges in the Jamnagar district. In a week-long special campaign, authorities will conduct a thorough review of various bridges and structures throughout the district. The initial phase includes inspections on bridges along the Dhrol-Jodia-Jambuda Patia road, assessing their robustness, structural integrity, and adherence to safety regulations.

Commissioner D.N. Modi expressed, “Should any weaknesses be identified in any bridge, measures will be implemented to halt the movement of heavy vehicles immediately. We personally inspected the bridges, and thus far, we have not encountered any major concerns. However, detailed inspections will persist.”

Simultaneously, in the Narmada district, officials have commenced a parallel inspection initiative following the state government’s instructions. Narmada District Collector S.K. Modi led visits to major bridges, resulting in directives to close seven unsafe structures in the district. Among these is the vital bridge linking Rajpipla to Ankleshwar, which is now closed to all vehicular traffic. Traffic has been redirected to an alternative parallel bridge. Approval has also been granted for the construction of a new bridge to replace the aging structure.

Moreover, seven other bridges in the forested Dediapada area have been shut down until their stability is confirmed. Routes for heavy vehicles have been modified to bypass these precarious crossings.

Collector S.K. Modi commented, “We inspected all major bridges over the Narmada River with technical specialists. We’ve closed six of them - five are now accessible only for light motor vehicles following diversions, while one bridge has had one side completely closed and converted the other side to a two-way system. Minor repairs are currently underway on several bridges already accommodating light vehicles. We’ve requested a stability report for another bridge, and if problems arise, we’ll adjust traffic accordingly. Our road repair efforts are ongoing, and after the rains, we’ll re-evaluate and execute necessary retrofitting.”