Kheda Raniya Bridge Damage: Govt Issues Clarification, Announces Traffic Diversions

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Government has issued a clarification regarding the bridge over the Raniya Distributary connecting Sardarpur and Chitlav villages in Kheda district, stating that the approximately 60-year-old bridge had already been closed to heavy vehicle traffic as a precautionary measure.

According to the department, soil settlement began at around 9 am on Sunday in the VRB (Vented Regulator Bridge) located on the Raniya Distributary, a branch canal, in Raniya village of Thasra taluka. The settlement occurred at a point approximately 15,730 feet along the distributary. As the settlement progressed, the bridge structure, including the pier girder, subsequently sank into the riverbed.

The affected road falls under the Roads and Buildings Department (Panchayat) and connects the boundary areas of Sardarpur and Chitlav villages. The department confirmed that there was no loss of life in the incident.

The authorities have also highlighted alternative routes for traffic. A newly constructed Roads and Buildings Department bridge connecting Nes-Raniya village is located around 1.4 km upstream from the affected bridge, allowing traffic to be diverted through that route. Another alternative is the Roads and Buildings Department road connecting Manjipura and Bhagwanji’s Muvada, located approximately 2.5 km from the affected bridge.

Regarding the incident involving the VRB Gambira Bridge, the Water Resources Department said that, as per the Roads and Buildings Department government resolution (GR) dated July 18, 2025, responsibility for necessary action rests with the Roads and Buildings Department (Panchayat), as roads under the department are located on both sides of the bridge.

Accordingly, the Roads and Buildings Department (Panchayat) has submitted a proposal to the Government of Gujarat in Gandhinagar for the renovation of the bridge, the Water Resources Department said. DeshGujarat