Ahmedabad/Vadodara: In a swift and decisive move following the tragic Muzpur-Gambhira bridge collapse that claimed 15 lives, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday ordered the suspension of four engineers from the Roads and Buildings Department, holding them accountable for gross negligence.
The officers suspended with immediate effect include Executive Engineer N.M. Naikawala, Deputy Executive Engineers U.C. Patel and R.T. Patel, and Assistant Engineer J.V. Shah. This action comes after a preliminary investigation revealed serious lapses in the maintenance and structural oversight of the bridge that connects Vadodara and Anand.
“Such carelessness will not be tolerated when the lives of citizens are at stake,” said CM Bhupendra Patel. “Those responsible must be held accountable. We owe that to the families who lost their loved ones.”
The Chief Minister had remained in constant communication with district collectors and state officials since the day of the incident, coordinating rescue and relief operations on priority. He had also dispatched a team of technical experts to the site to inspect the collapsed span, analyze structural failures, and prepare a full report on repair works and quality checks conducted over the years.
Based on this expert assessment, it was concluded that irregularities in maintenance and neglect of early warnings played a major role in the collapse, leading to the prompt suspension of the responsible officers.
In addition to disciplinary action, CM Patel has directed the Roads and Housing Department to immediately begin structural inspections of all aging bridges across Gujarat, especially those with heavy vehicular traffic.
“Public safety is paramount. I have instructed that vulnerable bridges must be rebuilt or repaired without delay,” the CM said, emphasizing zero tolerance for negligence in infrastructure oversight.
As public outrage mounts and questions are raised over the ignored warnings since 2022, the state government appears determined to ensure accountability and systemic correction.
The collapse of the Muzpur-Gambhira bridge has triggered statewide concern over bridge safety in Gujarat, prompting a broader rethink of inspection protocols and urgent reforms in the Roads and Buildings Department.
