The arrival of the monsoon has once again brought Gujarat’s road infrastructure under scrutiny, and separate incidents in Surat and Junagadh exposed road maintenance, civic planning, and public safety issues.
A motorcycle rider in Junagadh suffered serious injuries after his bike hit a water-filled pothole on a road that had been patched after excavation. Rainwater concealed the pothole, and the rider didn’t know that he was in trouble until the vehicle lost control. The cyclist was rushed to the hospital in the area for treatment, and the city's municipal corporation has come under fire for poor road restoration work.
And in Surat, heavy rain exposed several damaged roads, potholes, and waterlogged roads, impeding traffic and making life difficult for commuters. Recently repaired roads had deteriorated after the year’s first showers, and residents worried about the durability of existing city infrastructure and the quality of projects.
The twin incidents have raised concerns over road safety during the monsoon, especially for two-wheeler riders who are more vulnerable to accidents caused by hidden potholes and uneven road surfaces. Poor drainage and poor repair work, and lengthy maintenance mean that crashes are higher in times of heavy rain, and it’s not only that, but a poor drainage system is linked to crashes in the future.
Citizens in both cities have been frustrated with repeated infrastructure issues that are recurring and persist every monsoon despite repeated promises of road improvements and maintenance. The quality control of the infrastructure and monitoring of contractors and permanent repairs instead of patchwork work in both cities has been called for by a lot of people who have objected to a lack of control over the quality of the work and quality control, rather than short-term patchwork.
Urban planners say roads dug up for utility work should be restored to the quality required by engineering standards to prevent subsidence and premature damage. Proper drainage systems and regular inspections are also recommended for waterlogging and longer road life.
SMART Cities? Or SINKING cities? A newly built road in Surat collapses, swallowing a water tanker. Every monsoon exposes the same story: poor construction, zero accountability, and public money literally sinking into the potholed ground. Will Govt give us an audit of where the… pic.twitter.com/X8YyFPP0ZM
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 2, 2026
Experts in road safety have always advised drivers to be extra careful when driving in the rainy season. Hidden potholes and slippery surfaces, poor visibility, and waterlogged roads can significantly increase the number of accidents. Two-wheeler riders should slow down, maintain safe distances, and avoid driving through flooded areas if possible.
The recent incidents have intensified public demand for greater accountability from municipal corporations and contractors responsible for road construction and maintenance. Residents say repeated infrastructure failures not only inconvenience commuters but also endanger lives.
As the monsoon takes hold, authorities will be looking to inspect vulnerable roads, deal with emergency repairs, and solve drainage issues to prevent further accidents and make road travel throughout the state of Gujarat safer.
