₹3.80-Crore Bridge Built, Approach Road Land Acquisition Yet to Begin In Valsad: Youth Congress Alleges, Seeks ACB Probe

A ₹3.80-crore bridge in Vashiyar village of Gujarat's Valsad taluka has triggered a political row after the administration reportedly began the process of acquiring land for its approach road only after the main structure was completed. The Youth Congress, which has been holding a hunger strike over the project, has alleged that the bridge was constructed to benefit BJP leader Harshad Kataria and has demanded an independent ACB and Vigilance inquiry into the entire matter.

The controversy centres on why land required to connect both ends of the bridge was not acquired before construction began and whether the project was planned in a manner that could increase the value of nearby private land.

Bridge Approved After Representations by BJP Leaders, Says Department

The Roads and Buildings Department, in a clarification issued after eight days of the Youth Congress agitation, said the bridge had received government approval following representations made by local leaders.

According to the information disclosed by the department, BJP MLA Bharat Patel, Valsad district BJP president Hemant Kansara, taluka BJP president Kishore Patel and taluka BJP general secretary Amrat Tandel were among those who had made representations regarding the project.

The department said the main bridge construction had been completed and the process of acquiring land for the approach road was now being undertaken.

The sequence has raised questions as approach roads are essential for connecting a bridge to the existing road network, while the required land acquisition process is generally expected to be addressed during the planning and execution of such infrastructure projects.

Youth Congress Alleges Project Benefited BJP Leader

The Youth Congress has alleged that the ₹3.80-crore bridge was built primarily to provide direct access to agricultural land near BJP leader Harshad Kataria and his family, potentially increasing its market value.

The organisation has launched a hunger strike demanding an investigation into the planning, approval and execution of the project.

The protesters have questioned whether public funds were used to create infrastructure that may have provided a disproportionate benefit to private landowners. They have also sought scrutiny of the role of officials and political representatives involved in the project.

While the allegations have been raised by the Youth Congress, the authorities' clarification confirms that the approach road land acquisition process is being carried out after the completion of the main bridge structure.

Questions Raised Over 1979 Land Order and 2016 Decision

The disputed area includes land covered under several survey numbers, including 366, 365, 368, 369, 367, 363, and 391.

It has been claimed that an order was issued in 1979 concerning the acquisition of around six vighas of land under provisions of the land acquisition law. Questions have now been raised over why the land was allegedly not taken over despite the earlier order.

The protesters have also referred to a 2016 decision in which then District Development Officer Gaurang Makwana reportedly rejected an application seeking non-agricultural status for land in the area because required no-objection certificates had not been obtained from the concerned departments.

They have questioned how a protection wall estimated to cost ₹80 lakh and the subsequent ₹3.80-crore bridge project were later approved using government funds.

Demand for Probe Into Planning and Land Acquisition

The central issue raised by the protesters is why the land acquisition process for the approach road began only after the bridge had already been constructed.

The Youth Congress has demanded an examination of whether this points to a flaw in project planning or whether there were irregularities in the approval and use of public funds.

An independent investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Vigilance authorities has been sought. The protesters have demanded action against those responsible if any violation of rules or financial irregularity is found during the inquiry.

They have also called for scrutiny of the 2022 approval files, old and new land records, inheritance records and the role of officials from the Mamlatdar's office, Prant office and the Panchayat Roads and Buildings Department.

Job Number Allotted Within Three Months of 2022 Representations

According to the information raised during the protest, the issue of constructing the Vashiyar bridge was taken up through representations in 2022, initially involving the village panchayat and later BJP leaders, including MLA Bharat Patel.

The project was reportedly assigned a job number within three months.

However, protesters have questioned why the acquisition of private land required for the approach road was not planned and completed at that stage. The bridge has since been built, while the administration has now started the process of acquiring land needed to connect it at both ends.

While local residents are expected to benefit from improved connectivity once the project is fully operational, the protesters maintain that the government must clarify whether the planning process followed established procedures and whether the timing of the land acquisition served any private interest.

The controversy over the ₹3.80-crore Vashiyar bridge is likely to continue as the hunger strike and demands for an independent inquiry gather momentum.