Major Road Collapse in Madhya Pradesh Creates 30-Foot Crater: Infrastructure Concerns Rise

Fortunately, no vehicles were traveling through the area during the incident, and no casualties were reported.

Bhopal:

On Monday afternoon, a significant section of roadway near a village in Madhya Pradesh collapsed, creating a crater approximately 30 feet deep.

The collapse occurred between noon and 1 pm, in the vicinity of the bridge connecting Mandideep to Intkhedi, with nearly 100 meters of the road giving way.

Fortunately, the area was clear of vehicles at the time of the incident, resulting in no injuries.

Social media platforms were quickly flooded with footage showing the retaining wall's destruction, prompting widespread concern about the condition of the bridge, which was constructed over ten years ago, as well as questions regarding the quality of state highway infrastructure.

The affected road near Bilkhiriya village on the Bhopal Eastern Bypass falls under the jurisdiction of the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC). This important thoroughfare connects to major routes leading to Indore, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Mandla, and Sagar.

Authorities stated that a team would be assembled to investigate the cause of the road collapse.

"Approximately 100 meters of roadway has collapsed, resulting in a 30-foot-deep crater. We are forming an investigative team to examine this incident. Initial findings point to the failure of the Reinforced Earth (RE) wall. The definitive cause will be determined once the investigation report is completed," MPRDC Divisional Manager Sonal Sinha informed NDTV.

The bridge was constructed in 2013, and the contract with the construction company, M/s Transtroy Pvt Ltd, was terminated in 2020 due to failure to fulfill contractual obligations. Since then, no entity has been officially responsible for the maintenance of this stretch.

Officials confirmed that the bridge was developed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework. Following the cancellation of Transtroy Pvt Ltd's contract, the MPRDC assumed direct oversight, outsourcing minor repairs as needed.

A preliminary technical assessment attributes the collapse to damage in the RE wall on one side of the Sukhi Sewania ROB (Railway Over Bridge) on State Highway-18. Engineers are investigating whether inadequate drainage, structural weaknesses, or insufficient inspections contributed to the wall's failure. A three-member committee has been established, comprising MPRDC Managing Director and Chief Engineer BS Meena, General Manager Manoj Gupta, and General Manager RS Chandel.

This committee has been charged with determining the precise cause of the collapse and presenting their findings to the government.

"If the investigation reveals negligence or irregularities, those responsible will face severe consequences," an MPRDC spokesperson declared.

Barricades have been installed along the damaged section, and one side of the road has been fully closed to redirect traffic. Repair operations and soil stabilization efforts commenced late Monday evening.

The incident has reignited discussions about road construction quality in Madhya Pradesh.

Critics referenced Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rakesh Singh's controversial statement from three months prior: "No technology has yet been developed that can guarantee a pothole-free road. As long as roads exist, potholes will continue to exist."