The Supreme Court of India has agreed to take up a case concerning the safety and durability of bridges in Bihar, following several collapses in recent months. The matter reached the apex court after multiple incidents raised serious concerns about infrastructure stability in the state.
On Monday, a bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, decided to consider listing a public interest litigation (PIL) for hearing. This PIL was filed in response to ten bridge collapses across districts like Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj during the heavy monsoon season of May, June, and July.
The Chief Justice remarked, “I will look into this,” when the plea was mentioned for hearing by the petitioner’s lawyer, Brajesh Singh. This response came after verifying whether all the necessary communications about the plea had been properly forwarded to his office.
The PIL seeks a structural audit and calls for the creation of an expert committee to evaluate which bridges in Bihar can be either reinforced or should be demolished based on their findings. The Supreme Court issued notices to the Bihar government, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and several state department officials including the additional chief secretary of the road construction department, the chairman of the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, and the additional chief secretary of the rural works department.
This judicial intervention highlights the growing concerns about bridge safety in a state that is frequently affected by heavy rains and flooding. The petitioner has also demanded real-time monitoring of bridges as per the standards set by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, aiming to prevent future disasters and ensure the safety and longevity of Bihar’s critical infrastructure.
