Patna: In yet another setback, a portion of the under-construction four-lane bridge over the Ganga river, connecting Aguwani Ghat and Sultanganj, collapsed on Saturday morning. This marks the third time that different sections of the bridge have crumbled during construction, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the project.
Third Collapse Raises Alarm
The latest collapse involved the structure between piers nine and ten, which span from Sultanganj to Agwani Ghat in Bhagalpur. The section came crashing down into the swollen Ganga River, according to officials from the Road Construction Department (RCD). The bridge, intended to be a crucial link connecting northern Bihar with its southern regions, has been plagued by repeated structural failures.
Previous Incidents and Project Background
This is not the first time the bridge has faced such issues. On June 5 last year, slabs on pillars nine to eleven sank into the river, and in April 2022, another section of the bridge collapsed. The bridge, which is the sixth to connect northern and southern Bihar across the Ganga, was being constructed at a cost of ₹1,710 crore by SP Singla Construction Pvt. Limited for Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited.
Concerns Over Design and Construction Quality
The project aimed to reduce travel time to Sultanagnj, Khagaria, Saharsa, Madhepura, and Supaul, while also linking NH 31 and NH 80. Despite the bridge’s significance, there have been ongoing concerns about design flaws and the quality of construction materials used. Experts from IIT-Roorkee had previously noted these issues, yet the RCD allowed the same construction firm to rebuild the collapsed sections.
Controversy and Official Silence
Initially, the RCD had proposed taking strict action against the construction company, including blacklisting them. However, the firm was later brought back to continue the project. Public interest litigations (PILs) filed in the Patna High Court alleged that substandard materials were being used and accused department officials of ignoring irregularities. Despite these serious allegations, the concerns raised by the public and experts were largely dismissed.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who oversees the RCD portfolio, and Additional Chief Secretary (RCD) Pratyay Amrit were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to reach them.
Ongoing Worries and Public Outcry
The repeated collapses of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge have not only delayed the project but have also cast a shadow over the safety and reliability of the structure. With each incident, public confidence in the project continues to erode, and calls for accountability and transparency in the construction process grow louder.
As the bridge remains incomplete and unsafe, the need for a thorough investigation into the recurring failures and immediate corrective actions becomes ever more urgent.
