PATNA: Barely three weeks after a bridge over the Ganga came crashing down in Bihar, bringing the state government under fire, a portion of another bridge being built over the Mechi river in Kishanganj district caved in on Saturday.
The collapsed bridge, being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), was part of a 49-km four-lane road, linking Kishanganj and Katihar districts, under the central government’s Bharat Mala project. The construction of the bridge had started last year and it was supposed to be inaugurated next year. The project, entailing an expenditure of Rs 1,080 crore, was being executed by G R Infra Limited. Sources said a high-level team of experts from NHAI would reach the site on Sunday to conduct a probe.
“The bridge was being constructed by the NHAI. It had nothing to do with the state government. It is the NHAI which is empowered to reward or punish officials or agencies concerned,” said Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
The Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat bridge on the Ganga, which was supposed to connect Khagaria district with Bhagalpur, had collapsed on June 4, triggering a huge outcry and a war of words between BJP and Grand Alliance constituents in the state.
The Patna HC had taken suo motu notice of the incident and summoned the officials of the executing agency, S P Singla Construction. The construction of the bridge was going on even as its design had earlier been declared “faulty”.
The Bihar Engineering Services Association had called for “structural audit” of all bridges, complete as well as under-construction, in the state.
(With Agency inputs)
The collapsed bridge, being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), was part of a 49-km four-lane road, linking Kishanganj and Katihar districts, under the central government’s Bharat Mala project. The construction of the bridge had started last year and it was supposed to be inaugurated next year. The project, entailing an expenditure of Rs 1,080 crore, was being executed by G R Infra Limited. Sources said a high-level team of experts from NHAI would reach the site on Sunday to conduct a probe.
“The bridge was being constructed by the NHAI. It had nothing to do with the state government. It is the NHAI which is empowered to reward or punish officials or agencies concerned,” said Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
The Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat bridge on the Ganga, which was supposed to connect Khagaria district with Bhagalpur, had collapsed on June 4, triggering a huge outcry and a war of words between BJP and Grand Alliance constituents in the state.
The Patna HC had taken suo motu notice of the incident and summoned the officials of the executing agency, S P Singla Construction. The construction of the bridge was going on even as its design had earlier been declared “faulty”.
The Bihar Engineering Services Association had called for “structural audit” of all bridges, complete as well as under-construction, in the state.
(With Agency inputs)
