What Actions is Ahmedabad Taking After the Gambhira Bridge Disaster?
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Synopsis
In a response to the Gambhira bridge tragedy, Ahmedabad is undertaking significant measures to enhance bridge safety. This includes a detailed structural audit of older bridges and immediate inspections to ensure public safety. Learn how city officials are prioritizing infrastructure integrity in the wake of recent accidents.
Key Takeaways
- AMC is conducting a comprehensive structural evaluation of bridges.
- Load-bearing tests will focus on key Sabarmati bridges.
- Visual inspections and repairs are ongoing.
- Public safety is prioritized following recent incidents.
- Immediate actions have been taken against negligent engineers.
Ahmedabad, July 11 (NationPress) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has initiated a thorough structural evaluation of all city bridges and flyovers that are 15 years or older. This important effort includes load-bearing capacity tests on significant bridges over the Sabarmati River, notably the Nehru Bridge (constructed in 1962) and the Gandhi Bridge (built in 1942).
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mirant Parikh confirmed that the inspection initiative will unfold in two phases.
“In the first phase, we are focusing on the three major Sabarmati bridges. Concurrently, our technical teams have been instructed to inspect 30 bridges built before 2010,” he stated. The remaining bridges within the city will be taken up in the subsequent phase.
According to Parikh, visual inspections are currently in progress on numerous structures, with immediate repairs commenced wherever necessary. Last year, AMC conducted initial assessments on 69 bridges, which resulted in a series of repairs, with approximately 80 percent now reported as complete.
Ongoing repair and reinforcement efforts are being conducted at several critical locations, including Gandhi Bridge, Sardar Bridge, Jivraj Park Bridge, and Chimanbhai Patel Bridge.
This intensified audit reflects increasing public demand for improved oversight of infrastructure following a series of bridge-related incidents in the state.
In the wake of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge collapse, which severed a vital connection between Vadodara and Anand and resulted in the tragic loss of 16 lives, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level investigation into the event. Following a preliminary report's findings, the state government has suspended four engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department.
An expert technical team has been assigned to investigate the site and assess the bridge’s structural history, including past repairs, inspection records, and quality checks.
The initial evaluation indicated multiple oversights in maintenance and oversight. Consequently, Executive Engineer N.M. Nayakawala, Deputy Executive Engineers U.C. Patel and R.T. Patel, along with Assistant Engineer J.V. Shah, have been placed under immediate suspension.
The Chief Minister has also mandated urgent inspections of bridges statewide to avert similar catastrophes, stressing that public safety is the utmost priority. A more detailed technical report is anticipated in the coming days.
Point of View
It is crucial to highlight that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's proactive measures reflect an essential commitment to public safety and infrastructure integrity. With increasing scrutiny on bridge maintenance following unfortunate incidents, it is imperative that city officials act with transparency and diligence to restore public trust in our infrastructure systems.
NationPress
07/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the structural audit in Ahmedabad?
The structural audit aims to evaluate the safety and load-bearing capacity of bridges and flyovers that are 15 years old or older, ensuring public safety and infrastructure reliability.
Which bridges are being prioritized for inspection?
The inspection will focus on major Sabarmati River bridges, specifically the Nehru Bridge and the Gandhi Bridge, along with 30 other bridges built before 2010.
What triggered the need for this audit?
The audit was prompted by public demand for better infrastructure oversight and the recent Gambhira bridge collapse that resulted in significant fatalities.
What actions were taken against engineers following the bridge collapse?
Four engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department were suspended following the findings of a preliminary investigation into the Gambhira bridge collapse.
When can we expect a detailed report on the audits?
A more detailed technical report on the audits is anticipated to be released in the coming days.
