Just days after a chunk of the flyover built by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) near Mansar, built only a few years ago, collapsed, another bridge has developed a similar defect. The bridge, also built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Kanhan river between Kamptee and Kanhan, was opened for traffic four years ago. The carriageway of the bridge has now developed potholes with exposed iron reinforcement bars, posing a serious risk to commuters. The bridge, inaugurated on September 1, 2022, was constructed to improve connectivity on National Highway-44 as the old British-era bridge had outlived its expected lifespan. However, within a year of opening of the new bridge over Kanhan river, the carriageway developed potholes and damaged span joints, forcing repeated repairs.

 

Despite several rounds of patchwork, the surface has once again deteriorated, with asphalt and concrete peeling off and steel reinforcement bars getting exposed. Thousands of vehicles, including heavy commercial traffic, school buses, and auto-rickshaws ply on the bridge daily. Motorists say, navigating the damaged stretch has become increasingly risky, particularly for two-wheeler riders who are forced to manoeuvre around deep craters while avoiding speeding traffic. “The bridge is only four years old, yet it already looks decades old. Instead of permanent repairs, authorities keep filling potholes, which reappear within months,” said a commuter Shubhangi Ramteke, urging NHAI and public representatives to intervene. Another commuter, Ramesh Wankhede, who uses the bridge every day, said the exposed steel bars could prove fatal for motorcyclists.

 

“If a rider hits the exposed reinforcement at night or during rain, it could easily result in a serious accident. We need a permanent solution, not temporary patchwork,” he demanded. The danger became evident on July 28, when an electric car and a motorcycle collided while attempting to avoid the potholes on the bridge. The biker sustained fracture to one of his legs in the accident. Residents questioned how a bridge built with public funds could deteriorate so rapidly despite repeated maintenance. They alleged that inadequate quality control during construction and ineffective monitoring have contributed to the recurring problem.

 

Ironically, the bridge lies on a busy national highway frequently used by public representatives, including the area’s Member of Parliament. Despite its strategic importance, commuters say the hazardous condition has persisted for months. With two recently built highway structures now raising safety concerns within days of each other, commuters have demanded that NHAI undertake a comprehensive structural inspection of the Kanhan bridge and carry out durable, quality repairs instead of recurring patchwork before a more serious accident occurs.