Vadodara: The Gujarat government has approved the construction of a steel bridge over the collapsed section of the Gambhira Bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand, at a cost of around ₹9 crore. Additionally, work on constructing a new bridge alongside the old one is also progressing.

In July last year, one span of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahi River had collapsed. As a result, traffic on the bridge was halted, causing significant hardship to motorists and pedestrians.

Despite the monsoon season, the Roads and Buildings Department commenced the construction of a new bridge adjacent to the damaged one on a war footing. With round-the-clock work at the site, 22% of the new bridge’s construction has been completed so far.

During the construction period, commuters travelling for employment to various industrial units in the Padra and Borsad areas faced difficulties due to the diversion in place. To address these hardships, the Roads and Buildings Department conducted a detailed inspection and testing of the damaged bridge and proposed restoring traffic through an alternative steel bridge arrangement.

Accordingly, based on the representation made by Cabinet Minister Ramanbhai Solanki, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved works worth ₹9.12 crore for installing a new steel bridge over the damaged portion, as well as carrying out necessary repairs on other spans of the bridge.

The Cabinet Minister stated that the state government is sensitive and committed to resolving the difficulties faced by the public. These approved works will now be undertaken by the Roads and Buildings Department on an urgent basis.

Once the work is completed, commuters travelling through Vadodara and Anand districts will receive much-needed relief. DeshGujarat