Bihar bridge collapse: Petition in SC seeks highest level structural audit of all existing, under construction bridges

NEW DELHI: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the Bihar government to conduct a structural audit of all existing and under-construction bridges in the state.
The petition, submitted by advocate Brajesh Singh, highlights the urgent need for this audit following multiple bridge collapses in Bihar within just two years. The petition seeks to identify and either demolish or retrofit weak structures to prevent future incidents and protect public safety.
Advocate Brajesh Singh raised the issue on Wednesday, emphasizing that three major under-construction bridges and several other bridges have collapsed recently in Bihar.
He noted the severe consequences of these incidents, including fatalities and injuries, and underscored the potential for future collapses due to government negligence and corrupt practices.
"It is a matter of grave concern that in a state like Bihar, which is the most flood-prone state of India, the total flood-affected area in the state is 68,800 sq. km which is 73.06 per cent of the total geographical area. Hence such routine accrual of the incident of falling bridges in Bihar is more disastrous as the lives of people at large are at stake. Therefore the urgent intervention of this Hon'ble Court is required to save the lives of people, as the under-construction bridges before its accomplishment collapsed routinely," the petitioner said.
Singh also requested the Supreme Court to direct the Bihar Government to establish a real-time monitoring system for both old and new bridges, based on guidelines developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. These guidelines, issued on March 4, 2024, mandate the use of sensors for real-time health monitoring of bridges, particularly those under National Highways and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, and should be applied to state-level bridges as well.
"The petitioner has also sought to issue direction to respondents specifically Bihar for making an efficient permanent body through legislation or executive order, comprising high-level experts from the concerned field for continuous monitoring of all the existing and under-construction bridges in Bihar and also for maintaining the comprehensive database on the health of all existing bridges in the state," the petition stated.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) enumerated various bridge collapses, primarily river bridges, in districts such as Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj. Singh's petition underscores the critical need for immediate action to ensure the structural integrity of these infrastructures, which are vital for the state's connectivity and safety.
The plea highlights that without thorough and proactive measures, further collapses could result in more tragic loss of life and property, especially in a state prone to heavy flooding. This call for action aims to mitigate such risks and safeguard the residents of Bihar from future bridge-related disasters.