Gujarat Government Closes Five Narmada Canal Bridges, Launches Urgent Safety Audits After Vadodara Bridge Collapse

After the tragic bridge collapse near Gambhira in Vadodara on 9 July, the Gujarat government has closed five bridges on the Narmada canal network due to structural safety concerns, reported The Hindu.

Officials also restricted heavy vehicles on four other bridges and marked 36 more for urgent repairs.

The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), which manages the canal system, has conducted technical assessments of around 2,110 bridges across national highways, state highways, and rural roads.

The findings revealed that prolonged exposure and constant heavy vehicle pressure had significantly weakened many canal bridges.

Among the five closed bridges, two are located in Morbi district and three in Surendranagar district.

The government initiated a comprehensive safety audit of all critical infrastructure, accelerating inspections following the Vadodara incident that left multiple casualties and one person still missing.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has directed departments to prioritise the repair and upkeep of all rain-affected bridges and roads.

He reviewed the status of infrastructure repairs and instructed officials to ensure quality control and quick redressal.

The government clarified, all the affected structures will remain closed until structural integrity is restored.

A state-level review also sanctioned Rs 212 crore for constructing a new bridge in the affected region.

In a statement, the state government confirmed that all the affected structures are part of the Narmada canal network and that necessary restrictions and closures will remain in place until structural integrity is restored.

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