Bridges & Potholes: India's Monsoon Economy Stimulus

In his epic tome, Natural Questions, Roman philosopher Seneca observed that the universe undergoes cycles of destruction (ekpyrosis) and regeneration.

- SHANKKAR AIYAR

Seneca's exposition delves on profound cosmic questions of ethical and spiritual transformation. A pedantic modern-day version of Seneca's hypothesis arrives across India every monsoon as nature exposes the complicity of apathy and corruption that drowns lives and livelihoods.

The spectacle of devastation is playing out this monsoon, too. Newer bridges are collapsing even as older ones are standing sturdy; city roads and flyovers pock-marked by potholes are competing with the lunar landscape, and newly inaugurated motorways are being gutted or washed off. The annual parade of incidents has triggered anger and outrage, illustrated by memes on social media.

Consider a few headlines to appreciate the magnitude of sloth. On Wednesday, a bridge on the Mahisagar river in Gujarat's Vadodara collapsed, taking down several vehicles and 12 lives. Last month, a bridge in Pune, declared dangerous by the government but used by folks, collapsed, killing four persons. It is not just road bridges causing worry. There are currently 9,784 railway bridges under repair. The government told Parliament in April that bridges are monitored in real time using sensors.

Was the Vadodara bridge monitored? An Indian Bridge Management System—tasked with assessing expiry dates for bridges—has been promised and under development since 2016.