The 308‑metre span, located on the Dudhi River near Umardha village, was intended to link the Narmadapuram and Narsinghpur districts.
The road network on either side of the bridge is still missing 1 km of approach roads, the very link that would have connected the structure to the district road grid.
During the monsoon months, the makeshift dirt tracks turn to slick mud, preventing trucks and buses from crossing; even in dry weather, commuters face potholes and uneven terrain that make the bridge almost inaccessible.
Local villagers, who originally hoped the bridge would cut travel time for 40‑50 nearby villages, say they've repeatedly raised the issue with district officials, yet no progress has materialised.
The state has yet to announce a timeline for completing the missing roads, leaving the bridge’s future uncertain and its intended benefits unrealised.