Bridge collapse: Survey reveals 40 bridges in Bihar are about to fall

New Delhi: After a series of bridge collapses in Bihar, the state government surveyed to check the condition of its bridges and culverts. The Road Construction Department finished the survey and found that about 35 out of 1,700 bridges need urgent repairs. If not fixed quickly, these bridges could collapse and cause harm.

The Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation has already started repairing the damaged bridges. This comes after a worrying month in which over 15 bridges and culverts collapsed in the state. Opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Yadav criticized the government led by Nitish Kumar for its handling of the situation.

Govt orders bridge survey

Recently, several bridges in Bihar have collapsed or been swept away by strong currents. Some of these bridges were built just 15-20 years ago. This raised questions about how well the bridges were being maintained.

In response, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha who was in charge of road construction, ordered a statewide survey of bridges. The team of engineers checked bridges that were over 30 meters long, division by division.

The survey report has now been submitted to the headquarters, underscoring the condition of the bridges.

Bridge repairs underway

The corporation has begun repairing three bridges, following the submission of the survey report. The remaining bridges will be repaired either during or after the monsoon season.

According to corporation officials, a comprehensive maintenance plan is being developed to ensure all bridges in the state are properly maintained. This will require funding, which the corporation will soon request from the road construction department. The exact amount needed for repairs is currently being assessed.

Bridge health assessment reveals urgent needs

The recent survey assessed the health of bridges across the state. Engineers evaluated each bridge's age, original weight capacity, and current pressure. They also considered the types and numbers of vehicles using the bridges, their quality, and whether repairs are needed. The assessment determined whether each bridge is safe for use. The findings revealed that over three dozen bridges require immediate repairs due to increased pressure, wear and tear, and other factors.