In recent years, Bihar has been plagued by a series of bridge collapses, raising serious questions about infrastructure integrity and governance. The alarming frequency of these incidents demands a closer examination of the parties responsible for ensuring public safety.
The latest catastrophe occurred on June 4, 2023, when the Aguani Ganga bridge in Khagaria was swallowed by the river, a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis. This incident follows the collapse of a British-era bridge in Saran district on March 19, 2023, and the Bihta-Sarmera four-lane bridge in Patna just a month earlier on February 19. The pattern continued on January 16, when an iron bridge in Darbhanga district fell.
2022 was no better. An under-construction bridge in Katihar district crumbled in July, and another in Nalanda collapsed on November 18. Earlier in the year, on June 9, three laborers were injured when a bridge gave way in Saharsa, and on April 30, the Bhagalpur-Khagaria road bridge suffered a similar fate.
These repeated failures highlight systemic issues in planning, construction, and maintenance. The lapses suggest a troubling blend of corruption, negligence, and incompetence. The construction sector in Bihar seems mired in poor oversight and weak regulatory frameworks, allowing substandard materials and shoddy workmanship to flourish unchecked.
Accountability must start at the top, with the state government and relevant authorities rigorously investigating each collapse. It is crucial to hold contractors and officials accountable, ensuring stringent quality controls and transparent bidding processes. Only through decisive action can public trust be restored and future tragedies averted.
In the end, the responsibility lies with both policymakers and implementers to ensure that Bihar’s infrastructure meets safety standards and serves its people reliably. The current state of affairs is not just a technical failure but a moral one, reflecting a dire need for accountability and reform in Bihar’s infrastructure development.
