• Source:JND
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A major portion of a road near a village in Madhya Pradesh collapsed on Monday afternoon, creating a 30-foot-deep crater. The incident occurred between 12 noon and 1 pm on the Bhopal-Vidisha eastern bypass near the Kalyanpur Railway Overbridge. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as traffic was light at the time.

The Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC), which maintains the road, has ordered an inquiry into the cave-in, to be conducted by a panel headed by a chief engineer. Built in 2013, the affected road is part of the Indore–Jabalpur bypass and serves as a key link connecting Indore, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur, Mandla, and Sagar.

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The video showing the retaining wall collapsing went viral on social media, sparking concerns over the condition of the bridge built more than a decade ago and the overall quality of state highway construction.

"About 100 meters of the road has caved in, leaving a 30-foot-deep crater. We are forming a team to investigate this matter. Preliminary findings suggest the collapse of the Reinforced Earth (RE) wall. The cause of the accident will be clear after the investigation report is released," the MPRDC Divisional Manager Sonal Sinha told NDTV.

About The Bridge 

According to officials, the Sukhi Sewania Railway Overbridge on State Highway-18 was constructed in 2013 under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The project was initially handled by M/s Transtroy Pvt Ltd, whose contract was terminated in 2020 due to repeated lapses in meeting contractual terms. Following the termination, the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) took over supervision of the stretch, commissioning only minor repair works when required.

A preliminary technical assessment indicates that the collapse was caused by damage to the Reinforced Earth (RE) wall on one side of the overbridge. Engineers are currently investigating whether inadequate drainage systems, structural deficiencies, or insufficient maintenance inspections contributed to the failure.

Three Member Committee 

According to the NDTV report, a three-member investigation committee has been constituted, comprising MPRDC Managing Director and Chief Engineer B.S. Meena, General Manager Manoj Gupta, and General Manager R.S. Chandel. The panel has been assigned to ascertain the exact cause of the collapse and submit a detailed report to the state government.

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"If the investigation report reveals negligence or irregularities, strict action will be taken against those responsible," an MPRDC spokesperson said.

Barricades have been installed along the damaged section, and one side of the road has been closed to facilitate traffic diversion. Repair and soil stabilization work commenced late Monday evening.