A bridge built at a cost of ₹8.86 crore over the Dudhi River in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district remains largely unusable three years after its completion because the approach roads connecting it to the surrounding road network have not been constructed.
The 308-metre-long bridge near Umardha village, in the Bankhedi area, was intended to improve connectivity between Narmadapuram and neighbouring Narsinghpur district. However, the absence of proper roads on both sides has prevented local residents from benefiting fully from the infrastructure project.
The situation has raised questions about project planning, coordination between government departments and the use of public funds.
Missing Roads Leave Bridge Difficult to Access
Although the bridge structure was completed around three years ago, nearly one kilometre of approach road remains unfinished on either side.
Residents are forced to use rough tracks running through agricultural fields to reach the bridge. These paths become muddy and waterlogged during the monsoon, making vehicle movement difficult and sometimes nearly impossible.
Conditions remain challenging after the rains, when the ground dries out and leaves behind uneven surfaces and potholes.
As a result, only a small number of vehicles use the bridge despite the substantial investment made in its construction.
Around 40 to 50 Villages Await Better Connectivity
The bridge was designed to improve travel between the two districts and benefit residents of approximately 40 to 50 villages in the surrounding region.
Once the connecting roads are completed, the route could reduce travel detours and make everyday journeys easier for local communities.
Farmers could benefit from improved access to agricultural areas and markets, while residents would have a more convenient route to essential services, including healthcare facilities.
For now, the missing road connections continue to limit these expected benefits. Residents must rely on difficult alternative routes, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Residents Raise Questions Over Delayed Construction
Local villagers say they have repeatedly brought the problem to the attention of authorities, but the approach roads remain incomplete.
The delay has prompted questions about why the roads were not completed alongside the bridge and which department is responsible for finishing the remaining work.
The project highlights the importance of coordinating connected infrastructure. A bridge can provide its intended benefits only when people can reach it safely and conveniently from the existing road network.
The lack of access roads has therefore become a central concern for residents who expected the project to improve transportation across the region.
Government Yet to Decide Which Department Will Build the Roads
An official from the Bridge Construction Department said information about the pending approach roads had been forwarded to the state government.
According to the department’s Sub-Divisional Officer, Keshav Raidas, the government will decide which department should undertake the construction work.
A final decision on responsibility is still awaited, and no confirmed completion timeline for the missing roads has been announced.
The delay leaves residents uncertain about when the bridge will become fully accessible.
Questions Over Public Infrastructure Planning
The unfinished approach roads have brought renewed attention to the planning and implementation of public infrastructure projects.
With the bridge already completed, the remaining work is essential to making the investment useful to the communities it was intended to serve. The situation also raises questions about whether responsibilities for the connecting roads were clearly established during the original project planning.
For residents of Narmadapuram and Narsinghpur districts, the immediate priority is the completion of the missing road links.
Until the approach roads are built, the ₹8.86 crore bridge will continue to deliver only limited benefits, leaving surrounding villages waiting for the improved connectivity they were promised.
