Post-Bridge Collapse, Bihar Govt. Tightens Construction Oversight and Tender Procedures

Chirag Gupta

Patna: A part of the bridge, connecting Jhala Chowk to Jakirparas at the Nepal Border, collapsed on June 18. The bridge, spanning 182.65 meters and funded under the PMGSY-II scheme, had an allocated budget of Rs 779.64 lakh, with Rs 650.64 lakh already spent. Two Executive Engineers and two Junior Engineers were suspended due to dereliction of duty, while an Assistant Engineer and another Junior Engineer were already suspended in related cases. The registration of the contractor has also been suspended pending further punitive action.

An investigation by NIT Patna and IIT Patna revealed deficiencies in the quality of construction materials used. A comprehensive review led to the decision that the collapsed bridge would be investigated under cabinet supervision to determine the exact cause and accountability.

In a bid to improve transparency and efficiency in the tender process, the Rural Works Department has introduced several changes. These include the online submission of advance money and quantity bills, the removal of hard copy submissions for tender documents, and the simplification of eligibility conditions. Clarifications regarding Annual Turnover and a fixed cutoff date for Similar Work Experience have also been established.

The department has also implemented new measures for the preparation and inspection of DPRs for various schemes, utilizing mobile apps for geo-tagged photographs, videography, and maintaining reports on MIS. Additionally, the department has engaged 950 Technical Supervisors through a service agency, with 240 already deputed after necessary investigations. Real-time monitoring using modern technology such as drones and LIDAR is being pursued to enhance the maintenance of rural roads and bridges.