Bridge Collapse in Tapi: CM Takes Strict Action with High-Level Probe, Three Suspended and Firm Blacklisted

On Wednesday morning, a bridge recently built on the Mindhola River in the Tapi district collapsed just before its inauguration. Although no casualties were reported, the incident prompted Tapi District Collector Vipin Garg to announce a probe earlier in the day. Subsequently, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered a thorough high-level inquiry by Wednesday evening.

Furthermore, in response to the incident, the Chief Minister immediately suspended the Executive Engineer, Deputy Executive Engineer, and Assistant Engineer involved in the project. It is worth noting that the bridge was constructed as part of the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and its estimated construction cost is approximately Rs 2 crore.

According to a statement issued by the government, Akshay Construction, a construction company based in Surat, has been banned from future projects due to their use of substandard concrete in the construction of a bridge that they were contracted to build. The statement further reports that a section of the bridge had collapsed and was not in operational use. A thorough investigation into the incident has been ordered, and the quality of the materials used in the bridge’s construction is being closely examined.

According to Garg, an inspection was conducted by a quality control team from Gandhinagar to investigate the cause of the bridge collapse. He added that it is currently challenging to determine the exact cause of the incident.

According to ANI citing sources familiar with the matter, the bridge’s width is 8.40 m, with two abutments and three piers. On Wednesday, a portion of the bridge slab between Pier 2 and 3 collapsed during construction work on the bridge’s approach. The bridge was part of the 2017-18 Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (causeway to bridge). It was awarded to Akshay Construction for a sum of Rs. 1.84 crores on February 5, 2020, through a tender process. Green Design and Engineering, based in Surat, carried out the bridge’s design.

Under the terms and conditions, the work would be completed in 11 months. However, the agency requested an extension of the deadline and May 30 was subsequently given as the new completion date. The incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 6.30 am. It involved the collapse of the middle section of the bridge, which connects Maypur village in Valod taluka to Dehgama village in Vyara taluka.

According to reports, the last bridge at the location mentioned above did not meet the necessary height requirements, resulting in submergence during monsoon season. Currently, construction of a new bridge has commenced in 2021.