+
Cracks beneath the Surface
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Cracks beneath the Surface

India’s rapid infrastructure expansion is being overshadowed by an alarming rise in bridge collapses – turning symbols of connectivity into sites of tragedy. From century-old structures worn down by time to new constructions failing within years, the failures reflect more than structural fatigue; they reveal systemic lapses in design, auditing and governance. As lives are lost and public trust erodes, experts are calling for urgent reforms to ensure that the nation’s drive to build does not come at the cost of safety. 

The latest collapse

Tragedy struck again in Gujarat with the collapse of the 40-year-old Gambhira Bridge, a vital link between Central and South Gujarat and Saurashtra. Built in 1986 at a cost of Rs 343 lakh by the UP State Bridge Construction Company, the nearly 900-m-long structure with 23 piers was expected to last a century. Despite repeated warnings from local leaders – some even predicting that the bridge would not survive another year – no preventive action was taken...

India’s rapid infrastructure expansion is being overshadowed by an alarming rise in bridge collapses – turning symbols of connectivity into sites of tragedy. From century-old structures worn down by time to new constructions failing within years, the failures reflect more than structural fatigue; they reveal systemic lapses in design, auditing and governance. As lives are lost and public trust erodes, experts are calling for urgent reforms to ensure that the nation’s drive to build does not come at the cost of safety. The latest collapseTragedy struck again in Gujarat with the collapse of the 40-year-old Gambhira Bridge, a vital link between Central and South Gujarat and Saurashtra. Built in 1986 at a cost of Rs 343 lakh by the UP State Bridge Construction Company, the nearly 900-m-long structure with 23 piers was expected to last a century. Despite repeated warnings from local leaders – some even predicting that the bridge would not survive another year – no preventive action was taken...To read the full article Click Here

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Audit Begins on Srisailam Bridge Amid Structural Safety Concerns

An audit of the Srisailam road bridge—an over 50-year-old structure spanning the Krishna River between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—has commenced amid growing concerns over its structural integrity.Authorities from the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) conducted a detailed inspection over the weekend following reports of significant vibrations when heavy vehicles traverse the bridge. Engineering teams carried out load tests, including the movement of a tipper truck across the span with varying weights, to monitor the bridge’s r..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

SC permits felling of 95 trees for road project near Aarey

The Supreme Court has permitted the felling of 95 trees for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project in Mumbai’s Film City area, located near the Aarey forest belt. However, the Court clarified that no trees may be cut without its explicit permission.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard the Bombay Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plea seeking approval to proceed with the initial phase of tree removal. The request followed a previous Supreme Court order dated January 10, which barred the BMC’s Tree Authority from cutting trees in Aar..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Bengaluru Tunnel Road DPR Reduces Tunnelling Timeline to 24 Months

Officials from Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure (B-SMILE) claim the reduced timeline is achievable through the deployment of advanced TBMs, each capable of boring a minimum of 200 metres per month—more than double the previous estimate. The overall project duration has also been reduced from 61 months to 50 months in the final DPR.“We initially considered six TBMs with a cutting speed of 90 metres per month, but that made the process too lengthy,” said B S Prahallad, Director, B-SMILE. “Switching to eight high-speed machines allows us to complete 32 km of tunnelling in two years under op..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?