'Superpower Can't Stand On Bridges That Collapse Under Negligence': A Budget 2026 Review

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video criticising India’s infrastructure claims has gone viral online days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Influencer Arjun Vaidya posted a video on Instagram questioning whether India is ready to project itself as a global superpower amid repeated infrastructure failures, marred by bridge collapses and poor road conditions.Reacting to the Budget, the influencer said ambition must be matched by quality. "A superpower can't stand on bridges that collapse under negligence," Vaidya said, urging citizens to "stop accepting rubbish" in the name of public infrastructure.

'42 Bridge Collapses In 6 Years'

Vaidya claimed in the video that in the last six years, 42 bridges across the country have either collapsed or were so poorly built that they had to be reconstructed. "In the last three years, 21 bridges collapsed and six of them were still under construction," he added, stating that nearly one-third of the failures happened before projects were completed.While acknowledging major infrastructure projects such as new metro corridors and the Mumbai coastal road, the influencer flagged what he described as poor execution at street level. "I am proud and celebrate the new metro corridors and the coastal road, and we should," Vaidya said, before adding, "Even when big projects are complete, the surroundings still look like a war zone. Dug-up roads. Patchy surfaces. Sidewalks that never got finished."Referring to personal experience, the influencer said, "I ran the marathon on the coastal road and even there in year one, the road was patchy enough to cause an engine (issue)."The video argued that if such conditions exist in highly visible projects, the situation elsewhere could be worse. "Imagine what's happening when no one is watching," he said.The video cited several past bridge disasters, including a bridge collapse in Vadodara that killed nine people, the Vivekananda flyover collapse in Kolkata that left 26 dead, and a Rs 1,700-crore bridge in Bhagalpur that reportedly collapsed twice before opening.

Is 'Lowest Bidder Culture' To Blame?

Blaming systemic issues, the influencer pointed to the "lowest bidder culture" under the L1 tendering system, poor quality control, and lack of accountability. The Pragati Maidan tunnel in Delhi was cited as an example, after it was shut within a year due to drainage issues."There's no real accountability. A few engineers transferred or suspended - that's it," Vaidya said. "We don't need bridges that look good on paper. We need bridges that stay standing in real life."The video ended with a challenge to the government: "If we want to be a superpower, mediocre is unacceptable. Seven on ten needs to become ten on ten. When will this happen?"

Users React

Users responded with supportive words as well as criticism. One user wrote: "Crazy how our ancient structures are still standing strong, but new bridges can't even last a decade."Another said, "So true Arjun."A third user, however, said, "I’m so confused with your content. You diss the government for things that don’t work for you but praise the government for the things that work for you. It’s never a balanced conversation keeping in mind the variety of followers you have."

Union Budget 2026

The Union Budget 2026–27, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has reinforced India's continued focus on infrastructure-led growth, fiscal discipline and long-term economic reforms.It proposed a significant increase in public capital expenditure to Rs 12.2 lakh crore, 7 new high-speed rail corridors and urban development, while also extending support for sectors such as semiconductors, biopharma and MSMEs.The Budget also included tax and compliance reforms aimed at easing the burden on taxpayers and enhancing ease of doing business. It reflects the government's broader goals of boosting investment, jobs and technology-driven growth across regions and industries.