In a tragic incident on July 9, 2025, the Gambhira Bridge, connecting Padra and Jambusar in Vadodara, Gujarat, collapsed, plunging seven vehicles into the river below and leaving a truck dangling precariously on the structure. According to official reports, 12 people lost their lives, and more than ten others sustained injuries. This disaster marks yet another chapter in Gujarat’s alarming history of infrastructure failures, with over 17 bridges and development projects collapsing in the past five years. These incidents raise serious questions about systemic negligence, poor maintenance, and allegations of corruption, exposing the hollow claims of development in the state.
Gambhira Bridge Collapse (July 9, 2025):
The 45-year-old Gambhira Bridge, spanning the Mahisagar River in Vadodara, crumbled, resulting in nine fatalities. Despite its dilapidated condition, the bridge had not undergone maintenance or repairs, highlighting a critical oversight in infrastructure management.
Botad Bridge Washout (June 2025):
Just 20 days prior, a newly constructed bridge over the Patliya River in Botad’s Janda village, built at a cost of millions, was washed away due to heavy rainfall. The collapse of a bridge only three years old raises significant concerns about construction quality and oversight.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Site (November 5, 2024):
A temporary structure at the under-construction bullet train bridge near the Mahisagar River in Anand district collapsed, killing three workers and injuring one. This incident, part of a nationally significant project, underscores persistent issues with safety and quality standards.
Bodeli-Chhotaudepur Bridge (August 28, 2024):
Heavy rains caused a 50-year-old bridge connecting Bodeli and Chhotaudepur to collapse. Fortunately, no lives were lost in this incident.
Chotila’s Habiyasar Bridge (August 27, 2024):
In Surendranagar’s Chotila taluka, a bridge near Habiyasar village, connecting over five villages, collapsed due to heavy rainfall. No casualties were reported.
Morbi’s Halvad Bridge (August 26, 2024):
A bridge in Morbi’s Halvad, constructed just a year earlier, succumbed to heavy rains, becoming another stark example of substandard construction quality.
Surat Metro Flyover Damage (July 30, 2024):
In Surat’s Saroli area, a section of a metro flyover under construction sagged and developed cracks before its inauguration. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Mehsana’s Ambedkar Bridge Collapse (February 14, 2024):
A portion of the Ambedkar Bridge in Mehsana, connecting the Mehsana-Visnagar ring road, collapsed, leaving a two-foot gap between the road and the bridge’s axle. Despite repeated complaints about the bridge’s condition, no repairs were undertaken.
Kheda’s Bamangam-Pariej Bridge (October 4, 2023):
A bridge over a canal connecting Bamangam and Pariej in Kheda district collapsed, causing panic. Locals had long reported its deteriorating condition.
Dhandhusar Bridge (July 5, 2023):
A 45-year-old bridge over the Ubhen River in Dhandhusar collapsed, severing the only route to Junagadh for residents of 20 nearby villages. No casualties were reported.
Morbi Suspension Bridge Tragedy (October 30, 2022):
The collapse of a 19th-century suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Morbi claimed at least 141 lives. Reopened just four days prior after repairs, the bridge was overcrowded with over 500 people, far exceeding its capacity of 125.
Rajkot’s Madhapar Chowk Bridge (January 25, 2022):
During construction at Rajkot’s Madhapar Chowk on the 150-foot ring road, a pier collapsed, injuring two workers.
Ahmedabad’s Mumtpura Bridge (December 21, 2021):
A section of the Mumtpura Bridge in Ahmedabad collapsed, raising questions about the project’s contractor, Ranjit Buildcon.
Mehsana Bypass Highway Bridge (January 24, 2020):
A bridge over the Khari River on the Mehsana Bypass Highway, built six years earlier at a cost of crores, buckled, prompting concerns about construction quality.
Rajkot’s Aji Dam Chowk Bridge (2020):
A bridge near Aji Dam Chowk in Rajkot collapsed, adding to the state’s growing list of infrastructure failures. In the same year, a bridge in Satodak village, Rajkot, and the Pipok Flyover in Surat also succumbed to structural failures.
Ahmedabad’s Hatkeshwar Bridge (2017):
Constructed by Ajay Infracon at a cost of ₹40 crore, the Hatkeshwar Bridge in Ahmedabad, designed to last 100 years, deteriorated in less than four years. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation issued a tender to demolish it.
Damanganga Bridge Collapse (August 28, 2003):
The collapse of a bridge over the Damanganga River killed 30 people, including 28 schoolchildren, marking one of Gujarat’s deadliest civic disasters. Eighteen years later, three government officials were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.
These recurring bridge collapses over the past five years expose a troubling pattern of inadequate maintenance, substandard construction, and systemic failures. While the government touts infrastructure as a hallmark of development, these incidents reveal a stark reality of negligence and corruption, leaving communities to bear the consequences, including loss of life and livelihoods. Authorities often respond with compensation, but the cycle of neglect continues, forcing residents to live at constant risk.