The bridge collapse in Vadodara, Gujarat, has been attributed to serious administrative negligence, according to a high-level committee report. Based on the findings, the government has suspended four engineers, and the Chief Minister has ordered a review of the condition of other bridges in the state.
Back in 2022, the government had received early warning signs when parts of the bridge began to deteriorate. A letter from a local panchayat member to the Roads and Buildings Department warning about the potential danger has also surfaced. However, authorities failed to restrict or prohibit traffic on the structurally compromised bridge. Even the construction of a new bridge was delayed due to administrative inaction.
The high-level committee submitted its preliminary report after examining the bridge’s structural integrity, maintenance records, and repair history. It concluded that timely action was not taken by officials, leading to the disaster.
Following this, four engineers from the engineering department have been suspended immediately. The Chief Minister has now called for a comprehensive inspection of all other bridges in the state.
The Roads and Buildings Department — which has shown gross negligence — functions under the direct authority of the Chief Minister.
