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Key Points

Ahmedabad has launched structural audits of bridges over 15 years old, prioritizing key Sabarmati River crossings. The move follows the Gambhira bridge collapse, which killed 16 and exposed maintenance lapses. Gujarat suspended four engineers and ordered statewide inspections to prevent future tragedies. Repair work is already underway on multiple bridges, including Gandhi and Sardar Bridges.

Key Points: Ahmedabad Begins Structural Audits After Gambhira Bridge Collapse

  • Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation audits bridges older than 15 years
  • Nehru and Gandhi Bridges undergo load-bearing tests
  • Gujarat suspends engineers after Gambhira bridge collapse
  • CM Patel orders statewide bridge inspections for safety
2 min read

After Gambhira tragedy, Ahmedabad launches structural audit of over 15-year-old bridges

Following the Gambhira tragedy, Ahmedabad inspects 15+ year-old bridges, including Nehru and Gandhi Bridges, to ensure safety.

"We’re prioritising the three main Sabarmati bridges in the first phase. – Mirant Parikh, Deputy Municipal Commissioner"

Ahmedabad, July 11

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has launched a comprehensive structural review of all city bridges and flyovers that are 15 years old or older. As part of the initiative, load-bearing capacity tests will be conducted on key Sabarmati River bridges, including the Nehru Bridge (built in 1962) and the Gandhi Bridge (dating back to 1942).

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mirant Parikh confirmed that the inspection drive will be carried out in two phases.

“We’re prioritising the three main Sabarmati bridges in the first phase. In parallel, our technical teams have been directed to inspect 30 bridges constructed before 2010,” he said. The remaining bridges across the city will be taken up in the second phase.

According to Parikh, visual checks are already in progress on several structures, with urgent repair work initiated wherever needed. Last year, AMC conducted preliminary assessments on 69 bridges, which led to a round of repairs, 80 per cent of which are now reportedly complete.

Current repair and reinforcement efforts are ongoing at several key locations, including Gandhi Bridge, Sardar Bridge, Jivraj Park Bridge, and Chimanbhai Patel Bridge.

The stepped-up audit reflects growing public pressure for improved infrastructure oversight following a series of bridge-related accidents in the state.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge collapse that severed a key link between Vadodara and Anand and claimed 16 lives, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. Acting on the findings of a preliminary report, the state government suspended four engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department.

An expert technical team was deployed to examine the site and review the bridge’s structural history, including past repairs, inspection records, and quality checks.

The initial assessment pointed to multiple lapses in oversight and maintenance. As a result, Executive Engineer N.M. Nayakawala, Deputy Executive Engineers U.C. Patel and R.T. Patel, and Assistant Engineer J.V. Shah have been placed under immediate suspension.

The Chief Minister has also directed urgent inspections of bridges across the state to prevent similar tragedies, emphasising that public safety remains the top priority. A more detailed technical report is expected in the coming days.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who crosses Nehru Bridge daily, this gives me some relief. But I hope they don't just do superficial checks. The Gandhi Bridge is 80 years old! We need thorough testing with modern technology, not just visual inspections.
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Priya S
Suspending engineers after the damage is done won't bring back those 16 lives 😔 We need accountability BEFORE tragedies occur. Hope this audit leads to proper maintenance schedules and transparency in reporting bridge conditions.
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Arjun K
Good initiative but what about new constructions? We focus on old bridges but many new flyovers develop cracks within months. Quality control is needed at all stages - from construction to maintenance. Jai Hind!
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Kavya N
My father is a civil engineer and he always says most accidents happen due to poor maintenance, not age. Hope AMC allocates proper budget for repairs and doesn't just do token inspections. Safety first!
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Michael C
Gujarat is India's growth engine but we can't compromise on safety for development. The suspended engineers should be just the beginning - need systemic reforms in infrastructure monitoring across all cities.

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