Gujarat Approves Rs 212 Crore For New Bridge Parallel To Collapsed Vadodara Bridge That Killed 20

Days after the Mahisagar river bridge collapse in Vadodara district, the Gujarat government approved a parallel two-lane bridge project and sanctioned Rs 212 crore for related works, reported The New Indian Express.

On Sunday (13 July), Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel granted administrative approval to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department to build the new bridge near Mujpur connecting Vadodara and Anand districts.

The government aims to complete the new structure within 18 months and has started the tendering process, an official release said.

A survey recently helped the R&B Department prepare a detailed project report.

"Following the unfortunate collapse of the existing bridge, which disrupted connectivity between central Gujarat and Saurashtra and posed challenges for local commuters and students, the chief minister swiftly approved this new project," it said.

A portion of the 40-year-old bridge near Gambhira village collapsed on 9 July, sending several vehicles into the Mahisagar river. Officials said the death toll climbed to 20 by Friday (11 July), while rescue teams continued to search for a missing person on Sunday.

R&B Department’s superintending engineer NV Rathva detailed the road expansion plan. He stated that the existing two-lane Mujpur approach road would be enlarged to four lanes and seven metres wide.

He added that a 4.2-km stretch from the highway to the new bridge site will also be developed as a four-lane road.

"The chief minister has approved administrative sanction of Rs 212 crore for these works," he said.

Meanwhile, officials reported ongoing rescue operations in the Mahisagar river using rubber boats and other equipment to recover wreckage and trace the missing person.

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