The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has closed a hanging bridge that connects the two ends of the Sayajibaug zoo intersected by the crocodile-infested Vishwamitri river as the century-old bridge needs repair. The closure of the bridge has meant that visitors at the zoo must walk around through the Sayajibaug garden via the suspension bridge to cross over from one part of the zoo to the other. The motorable bridge, built during the era of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, has ornate "chhatris" adoring the top and connects the current enclosure of carnivores to the newly built walk-through aviary. The decision to close the bridge connecting the zoo across Vishwamitri was taken on July 22 after recommendation from the consultant of the civic body who examined the structure for fitness, VMC officials said. Following the Morbi bridge collapse in October 2022, several experts had pointed out that the bridge had shown signs of damage. Officials said the heavy spell of rain witnessed in Vadodara last week caused partial washing away of a bridge on the Bhooki canal in MSU, prompting the VMC to undertake a scrutiny of the Sayajibaug bridge. Deputy Commissioner of VMC, Arpit Sagar, told this newspaper, "We have closed the bridge on Sunday to undertake study of the structural stability. Once a team of experts submits its opinion, we will decide on the further course of action. It has been closed to pedestrians and common usage as a precaution." The bridge, which is said to have been constructed at the time the garden was opened to the public 143 years ago, is a hanging bridge that was initially used for vehicular traffic moving from Fatehgunj to Karelibaug. Later, as the civic body constructed a city road, the premises of the zoo were closed to vehicular traffic passing through. However, the bridge continued to be used for vehicles moving inside the garden and zoo for repairs, maintenance and even for transporting food for animals. The closure of the bridge has meant inconvenience to visitors, which the zoo authorities have taken note of. Curator Dr Pratyush Patankar told this newspaper, "We received intimation from the VMC to close the bridge as precaution and we have done so as it is in need of repairs. We have, however, asked the VMC to expedite building a new parallel bridge and also to reopen the bridge after examination and repairs, if necessary as it would lead to a lot of inconvenience in management and visitors. We are planning to close the ticket windows earlier than the usual time of 5 pm as many visitors entering the zoo at the end may not have sufficient time to travel across the garden through the suspension bridge to visit the other side. Similarly, we are also facing a problem in transporting food for animals as our workers have to now walk around the garden with the animal feed." Patankar added that the zoo authorities had already deployed three security guards to man the ends of the bridge as well as the centrepoint to regulate pedestrian movement, where visitors often stand to spot crocodiles or take pictures.
