A SPAN-CUM-MIDDLE part of the high-level bridge located at km 4/10 on the BareliPipariya road collapsed on Monday during ongoing maintenance work, leaving four youths injured after their two motorcycles plunged from the damaged section. All injured have been admitted to the Bareli Civil Hospital for treatment. The bridge, constructed in 1980 by the Public Works Department, came under the maintenance of the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) in the year 2010.

 

Although the road was upgraded under the ADBfunded MPSRSP-2 project in 2011, no work was carried out on this bridge at the time. A recent survey conducted using RAMS software had flagged several structural concerns, including reinforcement corrosion, clogged expansion joints and deteriorated protection works. Based on these observations, a proposal for repair and reconstruction was prepared, and Rs 98 lakh was sanctioned on May 29, 2025. During repair activity on December 1, the span on the Bareli side of the bridge gave way.

 

In the aftermath, MPRDC has suspended Manager A A Khan, holding field staff responsible for the bridge’s maintenance. Show-cause notices have also been issued to the present and former Divisional Managers and Assistant General Managers. A three-member inquiry committee has been constituted, headed by Chief Engineer (ADB) Gopal Singh, with Consultant (Bridge) Girjesh Sharma and Deputy General Manager (Maintenance) Sharad Dadu as members. The committee has been directed to submit a detailed report within seven days to the Managing Director of MPRDC.

 

The order was issued by Chief General Manager (Administration) Pradeep Jain with immediate effect. Meanwhile, traffic has been diverted. Vehicles are currently being routed through the old culvert at Nayagaon village, while a temporary diversion is being constructed beside the damaged bridge using hume pipes. Authorities have stated that further action will be taken based on the committee’s findings.

 

Bareilly's SubDivisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Kunwar Singh Mukati, said that the bridge, which was approximately 50 years old, was in a dilapidated condition. Collector Arun Kumar Vishwakarma and Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta visited the injured persons at the hospital and the scene of the collapse. For the time being, traffic has been diverted to the old culvert in Nayagaon Kala village, an official said.