Supreme Court Transfers Bihar Bridge Collapse Petition To Patna HC

The Supreme Court, on April 1, transferred a petition regarding Bihar’s recurring bridge collapses to the Patna High Court, directing it to hold a speedy hearing on the matter.

The plea, filed by lawyer Brajesh Singh, highlights multiple incidents of bridge failures over the past two years, causing fatalities and injuries.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna criticized the Bihar government’s response, pointing out that its own affidavit acknowledged instances of bridge collapses.

The court also reprimanded the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for reinstating officials it had suspended for negligence.

Infrastructure At Risk?

The petition underscores the alarming rate of bridge failures across Bihar, with three major under-construction bridges and several medium and small bridges collapsing in just two years.

Specific incidents in Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj are cited as examples of government and contractor negligence.

The petitioner has demanded a comprehensive structural audit of all existing and under-construction bridges, urging authorities to either reconstruct weak bridges or demolish them to prevent further disasters.

The plea also calls for stricter monitoring mechanisms to curb corruption between government agencies and contractors.

State Response & Ongoing Investigations

The Supreme Court has directed the Bihar government to file a response detailing its actions regarding infrastructure safety.

The Supreme Court instructed its registry to transfer all case-related files to the Patna High Court within three weeks.

Additionally, the plea names the Chief Secretary of Bihar, the Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction, the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as respondents.

The Patna High Court is scheduled to hear the case on May 14.

Call For Structural Reforms

The petitioner has urged the government to establish a real-time monitoring system for bridges, especially in flood-prone areas.

The plea also proposes the use of sensors to track the structural integrity of bridges and calls for a permanent oversight body comprising expert engineers to maintain a database on bridge conditions.

Recent incidents include the collapse of a 40-year-old bridge over the Gandak River in Siwan, the destruction of a bridge in Chapra, and the June 18 collapse of a Rs 12 crore bridge over the Bakra River in Araria.

The petitioner argues that without urgent intervention, further incidents may occur due to government inaction and corruption in infrastructure projects.

With the case now in the Patna High Court, all eyes will be on the state government’s response and the steps taken to ensure the safety and durability of Bihar’s bridges.

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