BHAGALPUR: Part of a bridge over the Ganga in Bihar underneath development for over 10 years gave approach Saturday, taking the doubtful tally of the state’s bridge collapses since June this yr to 18.
Nobody was harmed when the iron superstructure of the four-lane Sultanganj (Bhagalpur)-Aguani Ghat (Khagaria) fell into the overflowing river. However this was the third time part of the identical bridge collapsed in slightly over two years, embarrassing the Nitish Kumar-led state govt and including to considerations in regards to the Rs 1,710-crore venture’s high quality.
CM Nitish had laid its basis in 2014, aiming to attach Bhagalpur with Khagaria and cut back journey time between a number of districts in north and south Bihar.
On Saturday, the iron superstructure, fitted between pillars 9 and 10 of the bridge, gave approach round 7am, Sultanganj circle officer (CO) Ravi Kumar. “The mishap happened on the similar location the place pillars had collapsed in June 2023. Some particles from the 2023 collapse had been cleared to make sure river passage,” the Kumar mentioned. There was no phrase from Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd (BRPNNL), which is constructing the bridge.
Sources mentioned the collapsed iron construction was a part of the broken portion from the 2023 mishap, was scheduled for elimination however gave approach as a result of stress from the overflowing river.
Lalit Narayan Mandal, the native Sultanganj MLA from Nitish’s JD(U), mentioned he would search details about the collapse from officers of the govt., BRPNNL and others.
Part of the upcoming bridge first fell throughout a storm on April 27, 2022, delaying the venture. A unfastened cable strand was believed to be the trigger then, although some had blamed poor development. The second collapse happened on June 4, 2023, when slabs from a number of pillars got here off and fell into the river.
Initially projected for completion by March 2020, the bridge is now delayed by over 4 years. The three.16km bridge, as soon as accomplished, would be the sixth over the Ganga in Bihar, and the second throughout the river in Bhagalpur district. The method roads to the bridge, on each ends, stretch 20km, making your complete span 23km.
