The Scale of the Problem

Between 2020-2025, India has witnessed an alarming number of bridge collapses. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reported 55 cases of collapses or damages on NHAI roads, bridges, and tunnels over five years - 40 during construction and 15 on completed projects. (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/55-instances-of-collapse-damage-on-nhai-roads-bridges-tunnels-in-5yrs-gadkari-101753886591588.html)

But media reports suggest the real number is much higher - 170 collapses with 202 deaths over just four years, indicating massive underreporting.

(https://www.newslaundry.com/2025/07/29/4-years-170-collapses-202-deaths-whats-ailing-indias-bridges)

A 2020 study found that 2,130 bridges collapsed in India between 1977 and 2017.

Major Collapses in Recent Years

Gujarat's Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara collapsed on July 9, 2025, killing 22 people when vehicles plunged into the Mahi River. The 40-year-old bridge had shown structural decay for years, yet remained operational. Locals reported it shook dangerously when vehicles crossed, but authorities kept it open to traffic.

The Morbi Suspension Bridge collapse on October 30, 2022 killed 135 people. Investigation revealed broken wires, faulty welding, and improper renovation. The contractor replaced wooden planks with aluminum sheeting without proper testing.

Gujarat has witnessed 17 structural failures over five years total.

Bihar saw 12 bridges collapse within just 20 days in 2024.

The Indrayani River bridge near Pune collapsed on June 15, 2025, killing four people and injuring 18. Grants for replacement had been approved the previous year, but work orders were issued only after 18 months.

Now Here's Where It Gets Really Disturbing - The Contractor Tender Game

Ranjit Buildcon - Ahmedabad

Ranjit Buildcon built the Mumatpura flyover in Ahmedabad that collapsed on December 21, 2021. AUDA suspended the company and proposed debarring them for three years. But here's the kicker - after floating tenders twice with no bidders, AUDA gave the exact same company the contract to complete the collapsed bridge. The ₹82 crore project was handed back to Ranjit Buildcon despite the investigation committee not even submitting its final report.

This was the THIRD incident involving Ranjit Buildcon - earlier bridge projects in Surat in 2007 also witnessed accidents where one person died. (https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/collapse-of-ahmedabad-flyover-third-incident-involving-same-company-7687752/)

Despite this track record, the company continues handling major projects for Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat civic bodies, and the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail. Media reports describe Ranjit Buildcon as Gujarat government's "favourite contractor".

SP Singla Construction - Bihar

SP Singla Construction built the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge over the Ganga in Bhagalpur district at a ₹1,710 crore cost. The bridge collapsed TWICE - first on April 30, 2022, and again on June 4, 2023.

Bihar issued a show-cause notice asking why the company shouldn't be blacklisted. But get this - SP Singla Construction continued operating on major projects in Gujarat during this entire period. (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/contractor-of-collapsed-bihar-bridge-building-two-in-gujarat/articleshow/100806076.cms)

The company had already built bridges in Assam, and after the Bihar collapse, Assam CM ordered IIT inspections of their bridges, but the company remained active.

GPC Infrastructure - Palanpur

GPC Infrastructure was blacklisted by the BJP government in Gujarat in 2016-17 after one-third of a road they built got washed away during monsoon in Ahmedabad. Despite being blacklisted, the same company got a contract in 2021 to build the Palanpur bridge. That bridge collapsed on October 23, 2023, killing two people. Congress leader Amit Chavda alleged that GPC Infrastructure had contributed approximately ₹1 crore to the BJP's party fund before the 2019 election. (https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/palanpur-bridge-collapse-firm-blacklisted-2016-17-gujarat-congress-leader-amit-chavda-8999131/)

Oreva Group - Morbi

This one is absolutely insane. The Oreva Group was given the Morbi bridge renovation contract without any tender process at all. Oreva specializes in CFL bulbs, wall clocks, and e-bikes - they had ZERO experience in bridge construction.

A Bombay firm had bid for the contract at a lower price, but the district collector received a call to award it to Oreva despite their higher quote and lack of expertise. The Gujarat High Court even questioned why the operation and maintenance contract was given without floating a tender.

The company claimed they did "100% renovation in ₹2 crore" but didn't replace old cables and opened the bridge without a fitness certificate. The bridge collapsed killing 135 people.

As Congress leader Amit Chavda stated: "Today in Gujarat, if you want to take up a contract for a road or bridge, as long as a commission is not sent to the Kamlam [BJP office], the contract is not awarded."

Why There's No Real Accountability

Bihar suspended 16 engineers after 12 bridges collapsed in 20 days. But the Supreme Court criticized the government for reinstating suspended officers after public attention shifted. (https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/bihar-bridge-collapses-officers-suspended-then-brought-back-observes-sc-3473956)

Such suspensions "hardly act as a deterrent, as has been seen in the past. These suspensions are revoked after few weeks once media and public attention shifts." Government sources admit such committees have never led to punishment of any official or contractor in the past. (https://latest.sundayguardianlive.com/news/bridge-collapse-in-bihar-exposes-commission-system)

Companies simply change names to bypass blacklisting. S N Bhobe & Associates was blacklisted by Surat Municipal Corporation after a flyover collapse, but within a month, the firm was demerged into TPF Engineering Private Limited with the same directors. TPF then won six Mumbai contracts. (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/under-new-name-firm-blacklisted-in-surat-won-six-mumbai-contracts-5739402/)

Despite 55 cases of collapses on NHAI roads, bridges, and tunnels, only TWO incidents resulted in disciplinary action - one project director was suspended and another transferred. That's it.

The Morbi case with 135 deaths remains without charges filed two years later.

The Mumatpura Case Reveals the Mechanism

When AUDA floated tenders twice after the Mumatpura collapse, no bidders came forward because tender conditions required the new bidder to take responsibility for the entire bridge while only completing remaining construction. This makes re-awarding to the original contractor the "easy" option for officials. (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/barred-firm-to-complete-collapsed-flyover/articleshow/95870630.cms)

Additionally, contractors maintain political connections through donations and commissions that protect them from blacklisting. This creates a vicious cycle: corrupt tender awards → substandard construction due to commission system → collapse → same contractors get rebuild contracts → repeat.

What Happens After Collapses

Compensation is announced but often not fully paid. After the Gambhira Bridge collapse, Gujarat CM announced ₹4 lakh compensation for each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gujarat-bridge-collapse-gambhira-bridge-vehicles-fell-one-after-another-fisherman-on-moments-after-bridge-broke-8848187)

For Morbi, the Gujarat High Court ordered Oreva to pay ₹10 lakh interim compensation to each deceased's family and ₹2 lakh to the injured, but the company struggled to pay even 50% of the interim amount. (https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/deposited-50-of-interim-compensation-for-morbi-bridge-victims-oreva-in-hc-123032700588_1.html)

Bihar finally rolled out a bridge maintenance policy after 10 years in development, requiring departments to maintain "health cards" with detailed inspection records for all 6,200 bridges. But this was only done after repeated collapses forced their hand.

The Bottom Line

This is a full-blown infrastructure scam running across multiple states. The same contractors who build substandard bridges get fresh tenders after collapses because of political connections, commission systems, and deliberate lack of accountability. Hundreds have died, investigations go nowhere, suspensions are reversed, blacklisting is bypassed by changing company names, and the cycle continues.

The system is designed to benefit contractors and politicians while putting public lives at risk. Until there's genuine enforcement of blacklisting, independent audits, criminal prosecution, and breaking the commission system, this will keep happening.