Sasaram/Patna: A much-anticipated ropeway project intended to ease access to the historic Rohtasgarh Fort and the Rohiteshwar Dham shrine suffered a major setback on Friday when one of its main towers collapsed during a trial run, barely a week after initial testing.
The incident, which caused partial damage to the upper terminal station, occurred in the Kaimur Hills of Rohtas district. No injuries were reported. However, the collapse has raised sharp questions about construction quality and the prolonged delays that have dogged the project since its inception.
In response, the Bihar government constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by the managing director of the Bihar Rajya Pul Nimran Nigam Limited (BRPNNL). The panel has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours. Separately, it has been decided that the ropeway’s design and construction quality will undergo an independent audit by IIT Patna.
Officials said the ropeway was in its final stages of construction when the accident occurred. On Friday, a trial run was underway with goods loaded onto the system when the main tower gave way. According to Kaushlendra Kumar, an assistant engineer with the corporation, a technical failure occurred after the ropeway chain came off during the trial. Engineers from Kolkata have been called in to assess and repair the damage.
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The project, estimated to cost Rs 12.65 crore, is being executed by Kolkata-based Ropeway & Resources Private Limited under the supervision of the state bridge construction corporation. Survey work was completed in 2020, and construction formally began on February 21 that year, with an original completion deadline of 14 months. That target slipped repeatedly, with successive extensions granted amid concerns over slow progress.
Officials acknowledged that a trial had been conducted recently amid administrative pressure linked to a possible visit by the chief minister. The test was initially declared successful, and the ropeway was expected to open to the public by March. The collapse days later has intensified scrutiny of the project’s testing and oversight.
Under the terms of the agreement, any damage during construction is to be repaired by the contractor at its own expense. The outcome of the inquiry and the IIT Patna audit is expected to determine the future course of the project and whether accountability will be fixed for the failure.
