A portion of a newly constructed bridge over the Bakra River in Bihar’s Araria district collapsed on Tuesday. The bridge, which cost an estimated Rs 12 crore, was intended to improve connectivity between Sikti and Kursakanta but failed before its official inauguration.
Reactions and Allegations
- Local MLA’s Statement: Vijay Kumar, the Sikti MLA, attributed the collapse to negligence by the construction company. He demanded an immediate investigation into the incident.
- Quote: “The bridge has collapsed due to negligence by the construction company’s owner. We demand that the administration conduct an investigation,” he said.
- Union Minister’s Clarification: In response to the collapse, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s office clarified that the bridge was not under his ministry’s purview.
- Statement: “The bridge that collapsed in Araria, Bihar was not constructed under the Central Road Transport Ministry. Its work was going on under the Rural Development Ministry of the Bihar Government,” Gadkari’s office wrote on ‘X’.
- Opposition Criticism: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) criticized the ruling NDA government, alleging widespread corruption and poor infrastructure quality.
- RJD’s Accusation: “As soon as the NDA government comes into power, bridges start collapsing everywhere! The rampant corruption and kickbacks result in NDA leaders, corrupt officials, and contractors making a fortune,” the RJD stated in a social media post in Hindi.
Previous Incidents
This collapse is part of a troubling pattern of infrastructure failures in Bihar:
- March 2023: A bridge over the Kosi River in Supaul collapsed, resulting in the death of a laborer.
- 2023: Another bridge over the Ganga River in Sultanganj also collapsed.
Calls for Action
The repeated infrastructure failures have led to increased scrutiny and demands for accountability in Bihar’s construction projects. The demand for investigations into these incidents highlights concerns over corruption and the need for stringent oversight in public infrastructure projects.
The collapse of the bridge in Araria underscores persistent issues in Bihar’s infrastructure development, with allegations of negligence and corruption further complicating the situation. The demand for thorough investigations and clearer accountability measures is growing, as the state grapples with ensuring the safety and reliability of its construction projects.
