The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised the Bihar government, observing that officials suspended after incidents of bridge collapse were reinstated once the public outcry had subsided.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar made these remarks while transferring a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to the Patna High Court. The PIL, filed by advocate Brajesh Singh, raised concerns over the safety and longevity of bridges in Bihar following multiple incidents of structural failure in recent months.
The bench noted that while disciplinary action was initially taken against certain officials in the wake of bridge collapses, they were quietly reinstated after the public's attention had waned. The court also criticised the Bihar government for submitting a lengthy affidavit that detailed various policies and schemes but failed to provide a clear explanation for the repeated collapses of bridges across the state.
In transferring the PIL to the Patna High Court, the Supreme Court directed that the matter be monitored regularly, preferably on a monthly basis, to ensure that structural and safety audits of bridges are conducted.
The petitioner, along with representatives from the Bihar government and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), has been instructed to appear before the Patna High Court on May 14, when the next hearing date will be determined.
During the brief hearing, the Bihar government informed the court that approximately 10,000 bridges in the state had been inspected as part of safety assessments. The bench acknowledged the state's response but emphasised the need for further oversight, leading to the decision to transfer the case to the high court for continued scrutiny.
The issue of deteriorating bridge conditions in Bihar has been under judicial consideration for several months. On November 18 last year, the Supreme Court granted the Bihar government and other respondents a final opportunity to submit their response to the PIL.
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Earlier, the petitioner had sought permission to present additional documents and media reports highlighting the poor condition of bridges in the state.
The PIL, originally filed on July 29, 2024, prompted the Supreme Court to seek responses from the Bihar government, NHAI, and various state departments, including the road construction department’s additional chief secretary, the chairperson of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, and the additional chief secretary of the rural works department.
The petition cited at least ten incidents of bridge collapse in Bihar between May and July last year, affecting districts such as Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj. While some attributed these failures to heavy rainfall, the PIL contended that the recurring incidents reflected deeper structural and maintenance issues. It sought urgent directions for a comprehensive structural audit of bridges across the state and the formation of an expert panel to assess which bridges required strengthening or demolition.
Given Bihar’s vulnerability to flooding, the PIL underscored the urgent need for real-time monitoring of bridge conditions, in line with standards set by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
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The petitioner highlighted that Bihar is the most flood-prone state in India, with nearly 73% of its total geographical area—spanning 68,800 square kilometers—classified as flood-affected.
The plea warned that frequent bridge collapses posed a severe risk to public safety, especially in a state where under-construction bridges were failing even before their completion. It urged the court to intervene immediately to prevent further loss of life and infrastructure failures.
In response to these incidents, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the road construction and rural works departments to conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those requiring urgent repairs.
However, concerns persist over the effectiveness of these measures, with opposition leaders and activists questioning the government's commitment to ensuring long-term infrastructure safety.
The Patna High Court is now set to oversee further developments in the case, ensuring that necessary structural audits and safety measures are implemented to prevent future bridge collapses in Bihar.
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