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January 16, 2025 – A four-year-old bridge over the Kanhan River in central India has developed gaping potholes, exposing steel reinforcement bars, raising serious safety concerns for daily commuters. The structure, built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on National Highway 44, has been patched multiple times yet continues to deteriorate. A collision between an electric car and a motorcycle on July 28, 2024, highlighted the immediate danger, leaving a motorcyclist with a fractured leg.
The bridge opened to traffic on September 1, 2022, replacing an old British-era crossing that had exceeded its design life. Within a year of inauguration, the carriageway began showing potholes and damaged expansion joints. Despite numerous rounds of patchwork, the asphalt and concrete continue to peel off, leaving steel reinforcement bars exposed. Thousands of vehicles, including heavy trucks, school buses, and auto-rickshaws, use the bridge daily.
Motorists report that navigating the damaged stretch has become increasingly risky, especially for two-wheeler riders who must weave around deep craters while avoiding fast-moving traffic. “The bridge is only four years old, yet it already looks decades old. Instead of permanent repairs, authorities keep filling potholes, which reappear within months,” said Shubhangi Ramteke, a local commuter. She urged NHAI and elected representatives to intervene.
Another daily user, Ramesh Wankhede, warned that exposed steel bars could prove fatal for motorcyclists. “If a rider hits the exposed reinforcement at night or during rain, it could easily result in a serious accident. We need a permanent solution, not temporary patchwork,” he said.
The danger became evident on July 28, 2024, when an electric car and a motorcycle collided while both attempted to avoid potholes on the bridge. The biker sustained a leg fracture. Residents questioned how a bridge built with public funds could deteriorate so rapidly despite repeated maintenance. They allege inadequate quality control during construction and ineffective monitoring have contributed to the recurring problem.
Ironically, the bridge sits on a busy national highway frequently used by public representatives, including the area’s Member of Parliament. Despite its strategic importance, the hazardous condition has persisted for months. As of January 2025, NHAI has not issued a public statement addressing the structural concerns. Local commuters have started a petition demanding a comprehensive structural inspection and durable repairs rather than continued patchwork.
Civil engineering experts familiar with Indian highway construction note that rapid deterioration within four years often points to substandard materials or poor compaction during initial construction. “Exposed rebar on a bridge deck is a serious safety hazard that can lead to corrosion and further structural weakening. Without immediate remediation, the problem will only worsen,” said Dr. Arun Mehta, a retired professor of transportation engineering at a Mumbai-based institute.
The Kanhan bridge issue follows closely on the heels of a partial collapse of another NHAI-built flyover near Mansar, also constructed just a few years ago. The two incidents within days have intensified public scrutiny of NHAI’s quality assurance processes. Commuters are now calling for stricter oversight and independent audits of all recently built highway structures in the region.
With the monsoon season approaching, the risk of accidents increases. Rainwater can pool in the craters, hiding the depth of potholes, and wet conditions make it harder for vehicles to brake or swerve. The exposed steel bars, if struck, can puncture tires or cause a rider to lose balance entirely.
Local authorities have not yet announced any timeline for repairs. Meanwhile, daily commuters continue to navigate the deteriorating bridge, hoping that a more serious tragedy does not occur before NHAI takes decisive action.
