Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened a meeting to address the ongoing issues of collapsing bridges in Bihar. The review session, held at ‘Sankalp’ on 1 Anne Marg, focused on the maintenance of the state’s roads and bridges.
In his address, Kumar emphasized that since 2005, Bihar has seen continuous development across various sectors, including the construction of numerous roads and bridges to facilitate easy movement for residents. “Our goal is not only to build better roads and bridges but also to ensure their proper maintenance,” he stated.
Kumar highlighted the introduction of a maintenance policy by the Road Construction Department specifically for bridges. He directed the Rural Works Department to develop a similar policy in alignment with this framework. He also urged both departments to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the maintenance of bridges and to ensure regular inspections. Kumar stressed the importance of vigilance and constant monitoring, warning that strict action should be taken against any negligence.
The Chief Minister also called for a comprehensive assessment of the condition of older bridges, recommending site inspections and appropriate maintenance measures. He insisted that ongoing bridge construction projects should be completed promptly and with high quality.
During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of the Road Construction Department Pratyaya Amrit and Additional Chief Secretary of the Rural Works Department Deepak Kumar Singh briefed Kumar on the status of road and bridge construction and maintenance within their respective departments.
Key officials in attendance included Principal Secretary to CM Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Brajesh Mehrotra, Development Commissioner Chaitanya Prasad, Chief Secretary Dr. S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary Road Construction Department Pratyaya Amrit, Additional Chief Secretary Rural Works Department Deepak Kumar Singh, Chief Minister’s Secretary Anupam Kumar, and Chairman of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited Abhay Kumar Singh.
