A public interest litigation (PIL) petitioner has approached the Supreme Court, requesting to add news reports and additional documents to an ongoing case concerning the deteriorating condition of bridges in Bihar. The petitioner, lawyer Brajesh Singh, aims to underscore the urgency of addressing the structural safety of bridges following several collapses.
On July 29, a Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, who has since retired, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, called for responses from the Bihar government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) regarding the matter. As recent as November 4, the court consented to potentially schedule a hearing on November 18.
On November 14, Singh submitted an interim application within his ongoing PILs, citing up to 15 news reports that depict the poor state of infrastructure in Bihar. This move comes in response to ongoing incidents, such as a tragic event in Nalanda district where an 18-year-old boy died after a bridge collapse.
“The bridges and culverts in the state of Bihar are in a dilapidated condition, collapsing routinely,” Singh stated, emphasizing the chronic nature of the infrastructure failures. He pointed out that the NHAI and the state government have yet to respond to the court’s July notices.
Adding to the urgency, Singh mentioned a recent incident on November 3, where an under-construction bridge in Darbhanga district collapsed, allegedly followed by secretive debris removal by the concerned company.
The PIL seeks several actions, including a structural audit of existing bridges and the creation of an expert panel to evaluate and recommend either the strengthening or demolition of unstable structures. Notices have also been issued to Bihar’s road construction and rural works departments, among others.
Notably, Bihar witnessed ten bridge collapses across various districts between May and July this year, incidents that were potentially exacerbated by heavy monsoon rains. The PIL highlights the critical nature of these infrastructure issues in a state that experiences severe flooding, with over 73% of its geographical area prone to floods.
The petitioner has called for real-time monitoring of bridge safety as per standards set by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, stressing the dire need for immediate judicial intervention to prevent further loss of life and property.
In response to the series of collapses, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed relevant departments to survey all old bridges for necessary repairs to ensure the safety of the state’s residents.
