Gandhinagar: In a swift and decisive move following the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge incident, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendra Patel has suspended four engineers of the Roads and Buildings Department after preliminary findings pointed to lapses in maintenance and oversight. The Chief Minister has also ordered a high-level investigation into the structural failure of the bridge that connects Vadodara and Anand districts.
Four Engineers Suspended After Preliminary On-Site Assessment
Acting on the initial observations of a technical expert team, Chief Minister Patel directed the immediate suspension of the following officials:
- Mr N.M. Nayakawala, Executive Engineer
- Mr U.C. Patel, Deputy Executive Engineer
- Mr R.T. Patel, Deputy Executive Engineer
- Mr J.V. Shah, Assistant Engineer
These officials were found prima facie responsible for oversight failures contributing to the accident.
High-Level Probe Ordered, Expert Team Formed
Following the incident, the Chief Minister stayed in constant touch with senior officials in the Roads and Buildings Department as well as the collectors of Vadodara and Anand, monitoring rescue and relief operations in real time.
A technical committee of experts has been formed to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the bridge’s design, maintenance records, repair history, and inspection processes spanning the last several years.
Statewide Audit of Bridges for Public Safety
Looking beyond the immediate cause of the Mujpur-Gambhira incident, Chief Minister Patel has instructed a statewide inspection drive to assess the structural integrity of all major bridges in Gujarat. The aim is to prevent similar tragedies by identifying potential vulnerabilities and enforcing rigorous quality checks.
The government has also emphasized the need for systemic improvements in monitoring and maintaining infrastructure critical to public mobility and safety.
Accountability and Public Trust at the Forefront
This prompt action underscores the Gujarat government’s zero-tolerance approach to negligence in public infrastructure projects. The state leadership reiterated that public safety and accountability will remain central to governance.
