A serious accident was narrowly avoided on Friday evening around 5 PM when a large slab of a bridge near the Maliwada Interchange on the Samruddhi Expressway collapsed, leaving a deep crater in the middle of the road. Fortunately, a motorcyclist passing underneath the bridge at the time escaped without injury, averting what could have been a tragic incident.
The Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg, in operation for nearly three years, has previously shown signs of wear, with visible cracks reported in multiple sections. The latest structural failure has once again raised questions about the safety and construction standards of the ₹55,000 crore mega infrastructure project.
Eyewitnesses stated that the central part of the bridge slab gave way suddenly, just as a two-wheeler was passing below, underscoring the vulnerability of commuters on the expressway. Despite repeated assurances by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) that M-40 grade cement was used to build a pothole-free road lasting up to 20 years, the incident has dented public trust in the project’s durability.
Authorities began emergency repair work on Saturday morning, responding swiftly to the breach. However, local residents and commuters are demanding greater accountability, stricter quality control, and routine inspections to ensure the safety of one of Maharashtra’s most critical transport corridors.
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