Supreme Court Seeks Response from Bihar and Central Government on Bridge Collapse Incidents

New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Monday, concerning the frequent incidents of bridge collapses in Bihar. The court has sought responses from both the Bihar and Central Governments on the matter.

The petition, filed by Supreme Court lawyer Brajesh Singh, raises concerns about the safety and structural integrity of bridges in Bihar. It demands the formation of a high-level expert panel to conduct a structural audit of these bridges.

Singh highlighted that Bihar is a flood-affected state, with 68,800 square kilometers, or 73.6 percent, of its land prone to flooding. He argued that frequent bridge collapses endanger people’s lives. The petition notes that in the past two years, 12 bridges have either collapsed or been washed away during or immediately after construction.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra, issued notices to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the Additional Chief Secretary of the Road Construction Department, the Chairman of Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited, and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Rural Works Department.

The petition underscores that as soon as the monsoon season began in Bihar, 11 bridges of varying sizes collapsed within 17 days.