A newly constructed road in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, costing ₹4.3 crore, has collapsed an astonishing 10 times in just 10 days, drawing widespread public anger and demands for an immediate probe. The repeated structural failures have not only disrupted traffic but also exposed glaring lapses in construction quality and governance oversight.
The road, developed under the Smart City Project near Bahodapur, was meant to ease vehicular movement in a high-traffic area. However, soon after its inauguration, potholes began appearing, followed by multiple cave-ins—some reportedly large enough to swallow two-wheelers.
Local residents, shopkeepers, and commuters have expressed frustration over the poor quality of construction, questioning how such a massive budget resulted in such a fragile road. Social media has been flooded with images and videos showing the collapsed stretches, tagging officials and using hashtags like #GwaliorSmartCityFail and #RoadScam to amplify the issue.
“The road collapses every time it rains. It’s like patchwork being redone over and over again with no permanent solution,” said Rakesh Sharma, a local resident.
Urban planning and civil engineering experts have raised concerns about the use of substandard materials, lack of proper drainage, and absence of compaction during road laying. “The fact that a road fails ten times in as many days is not just alarming—it’s criminal,” stated a retired PWD engineer who wished to remain anonymous.
In response to the mounting public pressure, Gwalior Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr. Rajesh Pathak has assured an inquiry into the contractor’s work and promised action against those found guilty. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have demanded that the State Vigilance Commission or Lokayukta take over the investigation, alleging corruption in the tendering and execution process.
The incident has also reignited discussions about the accountability of contractors under public infrastructure projects and the need for stringent monitoring. Many citizens argue that unless real punishment is meted out, such incidents will continue to plague urban development across India.
State Urban Development officials, however, maintain that the road’s repeated collapse is due to unexpected underground water seepage and not due to corruption—though the public remains unconvinced.
As the rainy season continues, the road remains closed for repair, inconveniencing hundreds of commuters and slowing emergency vehicle movement in the area.
