Patna: The quality of government-funded infrastructure projects has come under scrutiny in Bihar’s East Champaran district after a newly constructed road and culvert reportedly developed major cracks and structural damage within just 60 days of completion.
The project was executed under the Chief Minister’s Rural Connectivity Scheme and was intended to improve transportation between villages in the area.
Road develops cracks, culvert partially damaged
According to local residents, large cracks have appeared across the road surface, while a section of the culvert has suffered significant damage. Villagers say the deteriorating condition of the route has increased the risk of accidents for commuters.
The affected stretch connects Parsauni and Bokane villages. The road extends approximately 1.8 kilometres from Shiv Mandir to Rampur Manorath and was constructed only recently.
Residents said they had expected better connectivity and smoother travel after the completion of the project, but the infrastructure began showing signs of failure within weeks.
Villagers allege use of substandard materials
Local residents have accused the executing agency of negligence and poor-quality construction.
According to villagers, substandard materials were used during the construction of both the road and the culvert, resulting in premature damage. They argued that a properly executed project would not have deteriorated within two months of completion.
Questions raised over project transparency
Residents have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the project.
They pointed out that the government information board installed at the construction site does not mention the total cost of the scheme. Villagers said details regarding public expenditure should be clearly displayed to ensure accountability.
Officials blame heavy vehicles
Departmental officials have denied allegations of faulty construction and stated that the damaged culvert was not newly built.
According to officials, the culvert already existed and only repair work was carried out as part of the road construction project. They claimed that the damage was caused by the movement of heavy vehicles over the structure.
Residents reject official explanation
Villagers have rejected the department’s explanation, arguing that authorities should have assessed and strengthened the culvert before undertaking the road project if it was already in a weakened condition.
They said attributing the damage solely to heavy vehicles does not address concerns regarding planning and execution.
Demand for investigation
The incident has sparked anger among residents, who say poor-quality implementation undermines the purpose of government development schemes.
Villagers have demanded a fair and independent investigation by the district administration and concerned departments to determine whether irregularities occurred during the construction process and to fix accountability for the damage.
