Surat | Gujarat — Surat’s bustling City Light area was gripped by concern on Friday after a deep crack appeared on a pillar of the Anuvratdwar overbridge, exposing internal iron rods and raising urgent questions about the bridge’s structural safety. Built in 2016 under the BRTS project at a cost of ₹55 crore, the bridge underwent ₹7 crore worth of rehabilitation barely months ago—yet a massive fracture now exposes what locals call the “shocking reality” of its condition.
The crack—visible from a distance—has triggered panic among daily commuters, many of whom use the flyover as a primary connector between residential and commercial zones. Motorists are now questioning whether the bridge, which services thousands of vehicles every day, is safe at all.
“This is not a crack—this is a warning,” say locals
Residents living near the bridge expressed anger and shock at the extent of the damage.
“This is not just a crack; it is a warning of a possible disaster,” said a shopkeeper near City Light Junction.
“After keeping the bridge shut for a month for repairs, how can such a huge defect appear again? Are we supposed to risk our lives every day?”
Photos circulating on social media show a gaping fissure in the central pillar, large enough to reveal broken concrete and rusting iron reinforcement bars—an alarming indicator of internal structural stress.
Quality of Repairs Under Scrutiny
The flyover was closed for nearly a month earlier this year for major repairs following the state-wide bridge safety review ordered after the Morbi tragedy. Despite the prolonged shutdown, motorists now question whether the repairs were only “cosmetic.”
“If a bridge renovated just months ago is cracking like this, then either the quality of the work was extremely poor or the structure was compromised from the start,” said a civil engineer familiar with the area. “Both possibilities are equally dangerous.”
A Bridge Weak Within 9 Years: Inspection Reports Reveal Damage
Municipal documents reviewed during pre- and post-monsoon inspections had already flagged weakness in key structural components of the bridge. Although flyovers typically have a life span of 20–25 years, the Anuvratdwar overbridge has shown significant deterioration in just nine years, prompting serious questions about construction quality and oversight.
The ₹55 crore project was built by Ranjit Construction, a firm also involved in several other municipal projects. The role of the Project Management Consultant (PMC) is now under renewed scrutiny, especially because the bridge required a major overhaul far earlier than expected.
Experts Demand Immediate Scientific Audit
Structural safety experts stress that the visible rods and crumbling concrete indicate a potential shear failure risk—one of the most dangerous forms of structural weakness in bridges.
“This is a wake-up call,” said a retired structural engineer.
“When reinforcement is exposed, the pillar’s load-bearing capacity is compromised. A full scientific health audit must be carried out immediately, not just visual inspections.”
SMC Expected to Act; Public Wants Accountability
Locals and civic activists are demanding that the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) form a high-level team of structural engineers to conduct a thorough analysis of the entire bridge, not just the damaged pillar.
“Taxpayers paid ₹55 crore for construction, and ₹7 crore for repairs. Now we need to know where the money went,” said a resident group member.
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