Bihar Bridge Collapse: Patna High Court Slams Government, Contractor Laxity
The four-lane Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge, which is being constructed across the Ganga in Bhagalpur district, partially collapsed on June 4 due to laxness on the side of the Bihar government and the contractor, according to the Patna High Court on Wednesday.
The managing director of the company building the bridge was asked to appear in person before the court on 21 June with his expert team as the case would be heard again after the state government was ordered to submit the action taken report on the problem.
“This court is astonished by the June 4 collapse of the bridge’s completed portion… On April 13 of last year, too, a portion of the bridge’s framework had fallen while building was still ongoing, according to the Justice Purnendu Singh bench.
According to the court, the tragedy happened as a result of the state government’s and the contractor’s negligence.
In the interest of the community, the bench said that it aims to avoid the abuse of tax dollars and the exploitation of natural resources.
The contractor SP Singla Construction Pvt Ltd was ordered by the court to provide a research report on the construction work associated with the bridge, which is expected to cost Rs 1,710 crore.
This court concludes that the state government took the issue of the bridge collapse seriously and had taken action against the corporation and its officers. On the next hearing date, the state government is required to submit its action taken report, it said.
The undertaking was supposed to be finished in 2019, having begun in 2014.
