New Delhi: The newly constructed “Nanda ki Chowki” bridge, costing nearly Rs 16 crore, collapsed following heavy rainfall on Tuesday (July 28), on the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib highway, merely a fortnight after it was inaugurated. The easy breakdown of critical public infrastructure, built using a substantial portion of taxpayer money, raises concerns about the quality of public works and corruption in the state.The affected bridge, situated between Prem Nagar and Nanda ki Chowki, caved in after continuous rainfall since Monday night, failing to withstand even its first monsoon and posing a serious threat to road safety. However, officials maintain that the “bridge itself remains structurally safe,” with only the approach road to it giving way after overnight rainfall washed away the soil beneath it.Ironically, the bridge, which was opened on July 12 after it missed its original April 30 deadline, was planned as a replacement to a previous connecting infrastructure over the Tons river which washed away in September last year, resulting in 14 fatalities.Dehradun district magistrate Ashish Chauhan, taking note of the collapse, directed officials to initiate action against those responsible for lapses in construction or execution.Meanwhile, Public Works Department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey said the chief engineer of the regional office has been asked to investigate the cause of the incident and submit a report to the government within three days, reported Times of India. “Any delay is unacceptable. Restoring the road is the department’s top priority,” he added.The collapse has disrupted traffic between Dehradun, Vikasnagar and Himachal Pradesh, forcing vehicles to divert to routes outside the city.According to the TOI report, district disaster management officer Rishabh Kumar said authorities were waiting for the Tons river’s water level to recede before soil filling could be commenced and public transit restored. Officials from the irrigation department have also been deployed at the site to evaluate the river’s flow and prevent further damage to the structure.The incident has triggered sharp criticism from residents and political leaders, who are questioning the durability of the structure despite the huge amount of money invested. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal told TOI that the authorities were trying to evade accountability, even after the project took almost a year to complete.The district administration has reported that “temporary repairs have been carried out,” with the traffic being restored. Nevertheless, the appearance of a massive sinkhole in the middle of a critical transit route, just days after its completion, evidences a significant failure on part of the administration.