VMC revives proposal for new bridge at Kamatibaug Zoo

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will go ahead with the construction of a new bridge for visitors at the Kamatibaug Zoo. The existing bridge, built during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, was shut to the public in 2023 due to safety concerns.

The bridge, which links the aviary with the main zoo premises, was first closed to heavy and four-wheel vehicles in 2022, after signs of structural ageing were noted. Following the Morbi bridge collapse later that year, authorities decided to completely bar public access to the old bridge. For a while, it was used only by zoo and garden officials, but even that was stopped after the VMC's bridge department raised fresh red flags over its safety.

Plans to build a parallel bridge have been under consideration since last year. However, the civic body's standing committee initially rejected the proposal when the lowest bid for the construction turned out to be 35% higher than the estimated cost. Even after negotiations, the revised bid stood 32.3% above the Rs 11.64 crore estimate. The contractor had quoted Rs 14.62 crore, which the committee found too steep.

The proposal was then returned with a suggestion to explore the possibility of strengthening or restoring the heritage bridge. A report by Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, later confirmed that the existing bridge could not be strengthened or rehabilitated.

Zoo officials, meanwhile, have been pushing for a new bridge, pointing out that the lack of direct access has disrupted daily operations. Staff now have to take longer routes to transport food and other supplies. Visitors — especially schoolchildren and senior citizens — are also facing inconvenience as they have to walk extra distances to access different sections of the zoo due to the closure of the old bridge.

In light of the SVNIT findings and the challenges faced by zoo personnel and the public, a new proposal has been drafted. Sources said the same contractor who submitted the original bid last year has now agreed to maintain the quoted price and extend the validity of the tender. The revised proposal has once again been submitted to the standing committee and is expected to come up for discussion later this week.