Patna: Large potholes have emerged along the side slopes of the Mokama–Bakhtiyarpur four-lane highway, prompting criticism from locals over the quality of construction. Cracks have also appeared on parts of the carriageway, raising concerns about the durability of the recently opened stretch.
BSCPL’s project manager, Tarun Prasad, attributed the damage to burrows dug by rats, claiming that the road lies in a waterlogged area and that the side slopes, built with 1.5 metres of raw shoulder, have been undermined by the rodents’ activity and subsequent water flow. He assured that repairs were under way.
The explanation has been met with disbelief by residents. “Such big potholes cannot be caused by rats,” said Viveka Yadav, a local, arguing instead that soil erosion from the four-lane was depositing under a nearby bridge, causing a build-up of mud. He added that the road under the bridge had sunk by around 1.5 feet since the new highway’s construction, leading to waterlogging that has damaged e-rickshaw motors.
One lane of the Bakhtiyarpur bridge was inaugurated by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in March this year, after which the four-lane was opened to the public. Construction of the 44.6km stretch of NH-31 began in June 2017 at an estimated cost of Rs 837 crore, with completion initially scheduled for 2020. Delays due to land acquisition pushed the deadline to March 2023, and costs escalated to around Rs 1,167 crore.
