Temporary Bridge Collapses In Narmada District’s First Rainfall, Cutting Off 259 Villages
Narmada: In Gujarat’s Narmada district, a temporary bridge constructed just two years ago on Rajpipla-Dediapada Highway collapsed during the first rainfall of the monsoon season. As a result, road connectivity to 259 villages in the Dediapada and Sagbara talukas has been completely severed, leaving residents in dire straits.
With no immediate alternative route, villagers are risking their lives to cross the overflowing river. To reach the district headquarters in Rajpipla, people now have to travel an additional 30 kilometers via Netrang. The disruption has caused major hardships for students, government employees, farmers, and daily commuters.
Due to the bridge’s collapse, all small and large vehicles now have to detour through Ningat, Beda Company, Phulwadi, Netrang, and Kantipada, adding around 30 km to the journey and increasing travel time, fuel consumption, and transport costs. Authorities estimate that 2,000–3,000 vehicles used the route daily before it was damaged.
Following the collapse, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Chaitar Vasava visited the site and sharply criticized the ruling BJP, which has governed Gujarat for over three decades. “Despite 30 years of rule, they couldn’t build a single permanent bridge in two years,” he said. “People are suffering while BJP leaders make grand speeches and empty promises.”
Satish Modi, Executive Engineer from the Roads and Buildings Department, attributed the collapse to heavy water flow that damaged the diversion. He confirmed that a work order has been issued for a new drainage system and that delays were due to late grant disbursals. Temporary repairs for small vehicles are underway, while the new permanent bridge is expected to be completed next year.
In the meantime, local residents continue to grapple with dangerous commutes and increased isolation, highlighting the urgent need for reliable infrastructure in rural Gujarat.