Filed Under · Unofficial
Bridges on Notice
Structures best photographed from a respectful distance, and crossed at your own risk. Warning boards included, free of charge.
Ranked by Notoriety
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Ballabhgarh–Sohna Railway Overbridge Widening — 8 Years Stalled
A four-laning project for this ROB, announced in 2016, has been stalled for eight years without construction beginning, due to unresolved land-acquisition disputes over ~360 yards of land held by multiple claimants and disagreements over compensation.
Chandwara Bridge Dilapidated Before Inauguration
A newly built bridge at Chandwara was found with broken railings and visible structural damage even before it could be formally opened to traffic, raising questions about construction quality.
Ellis Bridge Rehabilitation Cost Overrun
Rehabilitation of Ahmedabad's historic Ellis Bridge began in September 2024 with a 12-month completion target, but had reached only 26% progress by the time authorities approved an extra ₹16 crore, pushing the budget from ₹26.88 crore to ₹42.90 crore. The same contractor's scope was later widened to also repair three other city bridges after a post-Gambhira-collapse safety review, reportedly because no separate tenders existed for that repair category.
Saharsa bridge collapse
A three-span bridge collapsed when an overloaded tractor carrying maize crossed it, part of a wider pattern the state has seen (Bihar's collapsing bridges reportedly cost the state at least ₹3,953 crore collectively over 4 years).
Thorayikkadavu Bridge Collapse
A beam of an under-construction bridge at Thorayikkadavu in Koyilandy taluk collapsed on August 15, 2025, injuring two workers; local media framed it as public money wasted on shoddy construction.
NH-365BG Underpass Bridge Slab Collapse
A freshly poured concrete slab of an under-construction underpass bridge caved in during evening hours after supporting scaffolding failed, injuring three workers.
Janampet Bridge — 12-Year Delayed Construction
A bridge meant to connect two villages across the Kanugula stream has stayed unfinished for over 12 years after quality-control problems, substandard work confirmed by 2018, design flaws, alleged fund misuse and contractor disputes repeatedly stalled the project. Officials admitted "there were no records of bills, measurement books, or other documents," and a stopgap ₹10-lakh temporary bridge's approach road has since suffered monsoon damage; villagers with 200 acres across the stream face a 12km detour instead of a direct 2km crossing.
Chimanbhai Patel Bridge — Cracks and Bulging Slabs
After heavy weekend rain in 2025, footpaths on this Sabarmati bridge split completely on the Sabarmati-side incline and fractured badly near the curve by the under-construction Bullet Train station, with concrete slabs visibly pushed outward at both spots. AMC had already flagged the need for repairs and expansion-joint replacement in a pre-monsoon inspection but postponed the fix, citing heavy daily traffic and ongoing secondary-wing construction.
14 Stalled / Incomplete Bridges Across Nine Districts
A state disclosure revealed 14 bridges across 13 assembly constituencies in nine AP districts sat unfinished for years — 11 structurally complete but unusable because their approach roads were never built — taxpayer-funded "bridges to nowhere."
Sion Road Over Bridge — Century-Old Bridge Demolished for Rail Expansion
This 112-year-old road-over-bridge near Sion station was closed to vehicular traffic from August 1, 2024 for demolition and reconstruction, after an IIT-Bombay structural audit recommended dismantling the century-old structure and rebuilding it with modern steel girders and RCC slabs. The bridge also obstructed Central Railway's proposed 5th and 6th line alignment between CSMT and Kurla, adding a second reason for its removal.
Aguwani Ghat–Sultanganj bridge (Ganga bridge)
A 1.8km under-construction cable-stayed bridge over the Ganga collapsed dramatically in April 2022, then again in June 2023 — a near-unprecedented double collapse during construction, without casualties either time.
Under-construction bridge girder collapse
A girder of an under-construction bridge collapsed amid heavy rain in Giridih district, adding to a wider pattern of construction-quality failures in eastern India.
Papagni Bridge Collapse
A bridge connecting Kadapa and Anantapur districts over the Papagni river collapsed in the early hours during severe November 2021 floods, cutting off a key inter-district road link.
Shahpura Railway Overbridge (NH-45)
A retaining-wall section of this overbridge collapsed on December 18, 2025, and a second section collapsed again on February 22, 2026 — barely 3-4 years after completion — forcing traffic closure on the busy Jabalpur-Bhopal highway.
Balharshah Junction foot overbridge collapse
A portion of a foot overbridge at Balharshah railway junction, roughly 60 feet high, gave way in the evening, sending commuters falling onto the tracks below and injuring 13 people.
Kotdwar Bridge Collapse Amid Heavy Monsoon
A bridge in Kotdwar collapsed on July 13, 2023 amid heavy monsoon rains, an incident significant enough to coincide with a statewide school closure in Uttarakhand over weather/infrastructure safety concerns.
Nanda Ki Chowki Bridge — Approach Road Collapse
The approach road of a newly inaugurated ₹16-crore bridge on the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib highway near Premnagar/Nanda Ki Chowki caved in during heavy rain just 16-17 days after its opening, though it was patched and reopened within about 12 hours. Note: this is the one collapse confirmed across available reporting — claims of the same bridge collapsing three times in a year could not be independently verified via credible sources as of this research; only this single, well-documented incident is included here.
Bhavnagar–Somnath Highway Bridge Collapse (near Rajula)
A portion of an under-construction bridge on the Bhavnagar-Somnath national highway collapsed near Rajula; a follow-up report roughly three years later found fresh cracks on the same stretch, worrying residents and motorists about a repeat failure.
Karimnagar Cable-Stayed Bridge (Manair Riverfront)
Built as a tourism showpiece with a dynamic LED lighting system, the bridge's lights stopped working within about 18 months, its pavement deteriorated, and an unpaid electricity bill of over ₹3 crore piled up; locals say it has become a late-night drinking spot rather than a tourist draw.
1960s Bridge Over Gurgaon Canal Collapses Under Truck Traffic
A decades-old, poorly maintained bridge over the Gurgaon canal in Ballabgarh collapsed into a V-shape on a Friday evening while heavy trucks were crossing, trapping several vehicles in the water; no fatalities reported.
Damodar Iron Bridge and Water Pipeline Collapse
A 40-year-old iron bridge carrying a drinking-water pipeline collapsed into the Damodar river on July 23, 2025, cutting off water supply to Mohishila Colony, Searsole, Benali and parts of Asansol, Raniganj and Jamuria, requiring emergency tanker deployment.
Doraha Bridge Over Sirhind Canal — Abandoned Mid-Construction
A bridge over the Sirhind Canal at Doraha, part of the Ludhiana Southern Bypass project, was left incomplete when work stopped in July 2013; construction materials remain abandoned on-site years later.
Tala Bridge
One of Kolkata's oldest bridges was closed first to heavy vehicles and eventually to most traffic for years after being declared structurally weak, echoing the Majerhat collapse.
Vemulawada Under-Construction Bridge Collapse (Mulwagu)
One of two arch-technology bridges being built on the Mulwagu tank since 2016 developed severe cracks and partially collapsed after 13cm of rainfall increased water flow, loosening the centering and sweeping away supporting iron rods over a 38-metre stretch. Residents disputed the official weather-only explanation, alleging construction delays and poor material quality were the real cause.
Kali River Bridge Collapse
Three portions of the roughly 40-year-old Kali River bridge on the Karnataka–Goa national highway collapsed simultaneously around 1am on August 7, 2024, sending a loaded lorry into the river and disrupting a key interstate route.
Citywide Bridge Bearing Failures — Gandhi, Sardar and Majmudar Bridges
A safety review ordered after the July 2025 Gambhira Bridge collapse found deteriorated elastomeric bearings across 89 spans of three key Ahmedabad river bridges — 38 spans on Gandhi Bridge, 48 on Sardar Bridge and 3 on Parikshitlal Majmudar Bridge — prompting a ₹21.55 crore emergency repair sanction. The review followed an August 2024 AMC audit that had already found 75% of 70 inspected bridges/flyovers citywide defective.
Tiruvannamalai State Highway Bridge Collapse
A newly built bridge across the Thenpennai river collapsed on December 3, 2024, during Cyclone Fengal — just three months after opening. The bridge sat at a river bend acknowledged in its own tender document, and nearby bridges survived the same flood undamaged. Anti-corruption group Arappor Iyakkam noted that six months on, no FIR or accountability action had been taken.
Bopal-Ghuma-Shilaj Railway Overbridge Ends at a Private Plot Wall
After six years and ₹65 crore of construction shared between AUDA, DFCCIL and Railways, this railway overbridge connecting Bopal-Ghuma to Shilaj was structurally completed — but its southern ramp simply terminates in a dead end, blocked by a private property's boundary wall, with only a narrow six-metre dirt track leading roughly 2km to the Shilaj main road. Video of the bridge literally running into a wall went viral, becoming a symbol of poor inter-agency planning. As of January 2025 the connecting road on the far side remained unconstructed.
NH-327E Mechi River Bridge Collapse
A 100-metre span of an under-construction bridge collapsed into the Mechi River on June 4, 2023, despite no significant rise in river water levels — the 11th bridge collapse recorded in Bihar within three years, prompting an expert probe.
Butterfly Bridge (Thergaon–Chinchwad)
Meant to ease heavy-vehicle traffic between Thergaon and Chinchwad, this 107m bridge remained incomplete on one side eight years after work began, missing multiple deadlines including a final January 2025 target. PCMC's Joint City Engineer attributed the delay to objections from a housing society that forced design and height changes.
Subhash Bridge — Span Sinks and Cracks Open Up
This 1973-built four-lane bridge, carrying thousands of vehicles and several bus routes daily, developed large cracks and a visibly sunken span section in December 2025 — its last repair had been in 2019 — forcing a five-day emergency closure. Months later, in March 2026, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation approved a ₹240 crore renovation of the bridge.
Motihari bridge collapse
An under-construction bridge collapsed in Motihari — the third such Bihar bridge collapse within a single week.
Adas Railway Overbridge Collapse
Approach girders of an under-construction railway overbridge near Adas village gave way on May 30, 2026, sustaining substantial structural damage; no injuries since no one was beneath it, but railway authorities launched an inquiry.
Meluri Pipeline Suspension Bridge Collapse
A cable suspension truss bridge carrying the sole water-supply pipeline to Meluri district headquarters was washed away by incessant rainfall on September 16, 2025, leaving the entire town without water supply.
Derelict Hindon River Bridge Left Standing 25 Years After Replacement
When Greater Noida Authority built a new four-lane bridge alongside an old two-lane one over the Hindon river roughly 25 years ago, it never demolished the original. That bridge has since developed large pillar cracks and eroded foundation soil, yet pedestrians and cyclists still use it.
Aishbagh ROB — Bridge With a 90-Degree Turn
The 648-metre, 8.5-metre-wide road-over-bridge was built with an abrupt L-shaped, sharp ~90-degree (later measured at 118-119 degrees) turn, which went viral as "inherently dangerous." After massive public backlash, Indian Railways agreed to transfer extra land so PWD could re-profile the curve for a gentler turn, adding roughly 3 feet of carriageway width; the original construction agency and design consultant were blacklisted.
NTR Bridge (Upputeru Bridge) Partial Collapse
Roughly 70 metres of the 140-metre, ~30-year-old bridge collapsed, severing a key link in Jagannaickpur. Opposition leaders alleged nearby desilting, dredging and a ₹9 crore park project had undermined the foundation.
Ralla Wagu Bridge Collapse
The bridge had been deteriorating for some time under continuous stress from heavy vehicle traffic, including overloaded sand-mining lorries, before a section gave way on January 4, 2025, cutting the direct Cherla-Venkatapuram passage and forcing a detour via Eturnagaram.
Lachung Bailey Bridge Collapse
A 200-foot, 25-year-old Bailey bridge connecting the two halves of Lachung village and linking it to Katao and Sharchok villages collapsed on January 5, 2025 when an overloaded supply-laden vehicle attempted to cross, severing road connectivity (only a footbridge remained).
Versova-Bandra Sea Link — Cost Up 140% in 7 Years, Still Barely Started
This MSRDC sea-link project has seen its cost balloon by over 140% in seven years due to technical redesigns (a relocated Juhu exit, a shifted navigation span, and a casting-yard relocation from Juhu to Malad), while its deadline slipped from December 2026 to May 2028. As of the latest disclosure only about 11-12% of construction work had been completed despite years having passed since the contract was awarded.
Palathara Bridge Structural Failure
A 60-plus-year-old municipal bridge began deteriorating after a heavy truck crossing caused cracking, and a nearby compound wall then collapsed onto it, compromising the foundation. The municipality restricted it to two-wheelers only pending an expert assessment.
Begusarai bridge collapse
A newly built bridge costing ₹13 crore collapsed in Begusarai district, adding to Bihar's string of bridge failures.
Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), citywide
Multiple foot overbridges built across Guwahati sit in a "dismal state," poorly maintained and largely avoided by pedestrians who prefer crossing roads directly at grade.
Pataragitti Stream Bridge Collapse
A 16-year-old bridge connecting Vijayapura and Belagavi districts over the Pataragitti stream collapsed suddenly on a Monday afternoon, severing the Athani connectivity route and forcing a longer detour via Tikota.
"Temple Run" Bridge — Triple 90-Degree Turn
This short bridge/road stretch packs three consecutive sharp ~90-degree turns into a brief section, creating a zigzag pattern widely compared online to the mobile game "Temple Run" rather than conventional road design. Google Maps satellite imagery of the structure went viral on social media (shared by Congress Kerala in June 2025), racking up over a million views and a wave of memes questioning why it wasn't built as a simple curve.
Atal Pedestrian Bridge — Glass Floor Cracks
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated this 300-metre pedestrian bridge over the Sabarmati as a flagship riverfront showpiece featuring a lit glass floor section. About seven months later, in April 2023, one of the toughened-glass panels developed internal cracks — reported as having "shattered internally" — forcing officials to cordon off the spot even as the bridge stayed open to pedestrians.
Durgapur Barrage Bridge Disrepair
This bridge, a critical link carrying over 26,000 vehicles daily, went without major renovation for roughly 80 years before the West Bengal government finally ordered urgent repair work ahead of monsoon, citing poor condition.
Tarkhola–Kalimpong Teesta Bridge Collapse
A replacement bridge built to replace one destroyed by the October 2023 glacial lake outburst flood was itself washed away on February 20, 2024, about a week before planned completion, injuring three workers.
Bailey Bridge Collapse Cuts Off 4,000+ Residents
A Bailey bridge in Chamoli district collapsed in June 2024, cutting off road access for more than 4,000 residents, illustrating the fragility of temporary/emergency bridge infrastructure relied upon across Uttarakhand's landslide-prone hill terrain.
Ved-Variyav bridge
The newly inaugurated bridge developed visible cracks just 40 days after opening, part of a pattern of newly built Gujarat flyovers/bridges failing shortly after inauguration.
Lakshman Jhula Shut as "Beyond Repair" — Replacement Still Not Ready Years Later
The 90-year-old suspension bridge was shut in 2019 after a PWD panel found it "not in a position to sustain any more load." Its ₹56-crore glass-floored replacement, Bajrang Setu, missed its July 2023 deadline and was still under construction (65% done, retargeted June 2025) more than three years after being commissioned; as of May 2026 Lakshman Jhula itself remained closed with no reopening date.
Delisle Bridge (NM Joshi Bridge) — Abrupt Closure and Demolition
This 97-year-old bridge connecting Lower Parel's mill district over railway tracks was abruptly shut to all traffic on July 24, 2018, days after a portion of Andheri's Gokhale Bridge collapsed triggered a citywide review of aging bridges; an IIT-Bombay inspection found its steel girders, pillars and underframe severely corroded and unsafe. It was fully demolished by mid-February 2019 and replaced.
CSMT "Himalaya Bridge" foot overbridge collapse
A century-old-style foot overbridge near CSMT collapsed during evening rush hour in March 2019, killing 6 people and injuring dozens; the BMC had ignored a prior IIT-Bombay structural safety recommendation.
Signature Bridge
Delhi's iconic cable-stayed bridge took 14 years to complete against a 4-year target, marred by fatal construction accidents, cable-stay failures, and contractor disputes, with the budget ballooning several times over.
Majerhat bridge collapse
A more than 50-year-old bridge collapsed during evening traffic, killing 3 and injuring over 25; it had been flagged unsafe in a 2016 audit but received only "patchwork" bitumen repairs.
Morbi suspension bridge collapse
A 143-year-old colonial-era suspension bridge, reopened days after a hasty and allegedly substandard renovation, collapsed under crowd weight on Oct 30, 2022, killing 135 people in India's deadliest bridge disaster.
Gambhira bridge collapse
A 40-year-old bridge collapsed suddenly during morning traffic, killing 22 people; initial findings pointed to structural failure from heavy use combined with inadequate maintenance and supervision.
Indrayani River footbridge collapse
A 32-year-old iron pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani river collapsed on June 15, 2025 under the weight of roughly 100 tourists/picnickers, despite warning boards restricting two-wheeler and overload use. Four people died and 18 were seriously injured; CM Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the district collector had already declared the bridge dangerous before the tragedy and a contract for a replacement bridge had begun.
Kota Chambal Cable-Stayed Bridge Collapse
A partially built span of the under-construction cable-stayed bridge over the Chambal collapsed without warning on December 24, 2009, killing 48 workers and engineers. Construction was halted for years amid contractual dispute before resuming in 2014; the bridge was finally inaugurated by the PM in 2017, roughly eight years after the collapse.
NH-130 Under-Construction Bridge Collapse
A cement slab of an under-construction bridge on NH-130 near Podi village caved in on October 16, 2017, killing one worker and injuring seven, three critically. The bridge was being built by contractor Dilip Buildcon.
Bhairabi–Sairang Railway Bridge Collapse
An under-construction railway bridge over the Kurung river collapsed on August 23, 2023 when a launching gantry gave way, killing at least 23-26 workers (mostly from Malda, West Bengal) in one of India's worst railway construction disasters.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge (Gokhale Setu) — Collapse, Demolition & 7-Year Rebuild
A pedestrian section of this ageing bridge collapsed during monsoon rain on July 3, 2018, killing two people and injuring several others. Post-collapse structural audits eventually led to the entire bridge being shut to traffic in November 2022 and rebuilt. Reconstruction dragged on for years — a 2023 deadline was missed after late girder delivery from an Ambala factory — and even after a much-publicised "reopening" in February 2024, a 6-foot height misalignment between the new bridge and the adjoining C D Barfiwala flyover caused traffic chaos, requiring further realignment work guided by IIT-Bombay and VJTI before the bridge was finally fully operational on May 11, 2025 — nearly 2.5 years after full closure and 7 years after the original collapse.
Elphinstone Road Foot Overbridge Stampede
During morning rush hour on September 29, 2017, a narrow, decades-old foot overbridge connecting Elphinstone Road and Parel stations became dangerously overcrowded when four trains arrived simultaneously during heavy rain; a panic-inducing rumor that the bridge was collapsing triggered a crush that killed at least 23 people and injured 39. Warnings about the bridge's inadequate capacity had reportedly been raised for years beforehand and ignored.