In a significant development, the Supreme Court has rejected the bail plea of Jayeshkumar Patel, the accused in the tragic Morbi bridge accident in Gujarat that claimed the lives of 135 individuals on October 30 last year. Patel, the Managing Director of Orevva, the company responsible for maintaining the bridge, must now seek bail from either the lower court or the High Court, according to the Supreme Court's suggestion.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court has issued a directive to the state government, urging caution in the maintenance and repair of two century-old bridges in Gondal city. The court's Chief Justice Sunita Agrawal and Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee emphasized the need to avoid repeating the "engineering disaster" witnessed in Morbi. The government had disclosed its ongoing maintenance work on the Gondal city bridges, prompting the court to address a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for immediate repair instructions.

The PIL raised concerns about the dilapidated condition of the Gondal city bridges, which were still in use by the public, and highlighted the potential for tragedies similar to the Morbi incident. The court acknowledged the government's allocation of Rs. 17 crores for the construction of two new bridges, including the dismantling of one existing structure. However, it stressed the importance of preserving esteemed structures and advised restoration with the expertise of conservation architects.

The Gujarat High Court expressed reservations about destroying historical structures unnecessarily and emphasized a cautious approach to maintenance. The court's concern resonates with the tragic events in Morbi, prompting questions about the adequacy of repair work undertaken. It specifically queried the government, asking if measures were in place to ensure that the repairs did not mimic those that led to the collapse of the Morbi bridge.