**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 799, addressed on July 24, 2025, regarding the collapse of an iron bridge on the Indrayani River in Pune, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, clarified the following:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for National Highways. The collapsed bridge is located on a State Road, falling under the jurisdiction of the State Government of Maharashtra. According to information provided by the State Public Works Department (PWD), the bridge was approximately 34 years old. Prior to the collapse, it primarily served pedestrian and limited two-wheeler traffic. The local Gram Panchayat had posted warnings indicating the bridge's unsafe condition.
The State PWD inquiry report attributes the collapse to overloading. As of the date of the response, the State Government has not reported any proposals for the construction of a new bridge.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
Pune, Maharashtra: A city in the state of Maharashtra where the iron bridge collapse occurred.
Indrayani River: The river in Pune on which the iron bridge that collapsed was located.
National Highways (NHs): The highways for which the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible.
State Government of Maharashtra: The state government responsible for the development and maintenance of the State Road where the bridge collapse occurred.
State Public Works Department (PWD): The Public Works Department of the State Government of Maharashtra that furnished details about the bridge collapse.
Gram Panchayat: Local self-government organization at the village or small-town level, which had warned about the dangerous condition of the bridge.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 799
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
IRON BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN PUNE
799. Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh:
Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the recent collapse of the iron
bridge on Indrayani River in Pune and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has initiated any action to determine the
cause of collapse and if so, the details thereof including findings of the
investigation;
(c) whether any prior inspections were conducted to assess the
structural integrity of the bridge and if so, the details thereof including
timeline and frequency;
(d) whether the Government has initiated any punitive action against
those responsible for the cause and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has taken action to reinstall the bridge in
a timely manner considering the transportation significance of the bridge
and if so, the details thereof;
(f) the details of tender allotment process for the construction and
maintenance of the new bridge; and
(g) whether the Government has formulated any concrete policies to
ensure prevention of such incidents in the future and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) to (g) Government in Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways is
primarily concerned with the development and maintenance of National
Highways (NHs). The recent collapse of the iron bridge on Indrayani
River in Pune has occurred on a State Road, the development and
maintenance of which is the responsibility of State Government of
Maharashtra.
As per the details furnished by the State Public Works Department
(PWD), the iron bridge on Indrayani River in Pune was about 34 years old
and after the construction of the said bridge, pedestrian and to some
extent two wheeler traffic was plying. Gram Panchayat had put up
notice boards stating that the bridge is in dangerous condition and not to
use it. As per the inquiry report of the State PWD, the accident had
occurred due to the collapse of this bridge due to overloading. No details
on the proposal for the construction of a new bridge has been reported
by the State Government.
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