Gandhinagar, July 13 — A high-level joint investigation has been launched into the damaged portion of the Bharatmala Highway near Santalpur in Gujarat’s Patan district, following heavy rains and mounting public criticism over the road’s poor condition.
Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a combined team of Central and state officials visited the damaged 1.35-km stretch of the 135-km-long highway that connects Sanchore in Rajasthan to Santalpur. The road, part of the ambitious Bharatmala project, suffered significant damage after recent rains, raising concerns over construction quality and triggering political backlash.
The inspection team, led by NHAI member Venkataraman and Patan District Collector Tushar Kumar Bhatt, collected road samples to test the quality of materials used. Authorities stated that strict legal action would follow if tests confirm substandard work. The contractor responsible has already been served a show-cause notice.
Meanwhile, emergency repair work has commenced to restore vehicular movement. Additional teams with manpower and modern machinery have been deployed to accelerate repairs and reduce inconvenience to commuters.
District Collector Bhatt confirmed that the inspection involved coordination between state and central agencies to ensure accountability and transparency. Chief Minister Patel also instructed state officials to conduct a comprehensive survey of roads and bridges damaged due to heavy rainfall and expedite necessary repair works across Gujarat.
The issue quickly took a political turn after images of the damaged stretch went viral on social media. The Congress party accused the government of corruption and negligence, questioning the integrity of the Bharatmala project and demanding transparency in infrastructure development.
The investigation aims to fix immediate concerns while ensuring long-term quality assurance in national highway projects.
