Nitin Gadkari issues clarification following collapse of inauguration-ready bridge in Bihar's Araria
- In Reports
- 06:44 PM, Jun 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari clarified that the bridge collapse in Bihar's Araria district did not occur under the purview of the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry. He stated that the construction of the bridge fell under the responsibility of the Bihar government's Rural Development Ministry.
According to a statement from the Office of Nitin Gadkari, "The bridge that collapsed in Araria, Bihar, was not constructed under the Union Road Transport Ministry. Its construction was overseen by the Rural Development Ministry of the Bihar Government."
The collapse of a 183-meter-long bridge, slated to open to traffic soon, occurred on Tuesday, marking Bihar's seventh bridge collapse since 2023 and the second this year.
District magistrate Inayat Khan of Araria confirmed there were no casualties. "It was not operational as the approach road was not complete… Hence no casualty has been reported."
She added that a technical team has been dispatched to investigate the cause of the collapse.
The bridge was under construction across the Bakra river near Parharia Ghat in Sikti block of Araria district, along the Araria-Kishanganj road. The project, costing ₹7.79 crore, aimed to reduce travel time between Araria and Kishanganj districts and improve accessibility for residents of Sikti and Kursakanta blocks.
The Rural Works Department's executive engineer, Ashutosh Kumar, announced that the contractor responsible for the collapsed bridge will face repercussions following an investigation. Kumar attributed the incident partly to the river's fluctuating course.
"Some days ago, locals attempted to alter the river's course between the bridge's two pillars, potentially contributing to the collapse," Kumar stated.
This incident adds to a concerning trend in Bihar. In March, an under-construction bridge over the Kosi river collapsed in Supaul district, resulting in one fatality and ten injuries. Last year, a 20.1-meter under-construction bridge over the Dumuhni River in Purnea's Baisi block collapsed shortly after the completion of concrete work.
Image source: PTI
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