The Supreme Court on Monday gave the Bihar government six weeks to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the safety and durability of bridges in the state. The PIL, filed by lawyer Brajesh Singh, cites multiple incidents of bridge collapses in recent months. The court described this as the “last opportunity” for the state government to submit its reply.  

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar also sought a response from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The court had issued notices on July 29, 2023, to several authorities, including the Bihar government’s road construction and rural works departments, but responses remain pending.  

The PIL highlights alarming incidents, including a recent case in Nalanda where an 18-year-old boy died after falling from a dilapidated bridge and the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Darbhanga on November 3. Singh alleges the concerned company secretly removed debris from the site overnight.  

Plea for structural audits and expert panel formation  

The petitioner seeks the court’s directive to conduct structural audits and establish an expert panel to identify bridges in need of strengthening or demolition. Singh emphasised that Bihar, the most flood-prone state in India, requires urgent action to prevent further tragedies.  

In light of these incidents, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed relevant departments to survey all old bridges in the state and identify those requiring immediate repairs.  

Next hearing scheduled for February 2025  

The Supreme Court has listed the matter for hearing on February 15, 2025. Meanwhile, Singh has filed an interim application to submit additional news reports and evidence underscoring the perilous state of bridges in Bihar.  

The PIL stresses that Bihar’s geography and annual heavy rains exacerbate the risks posed by deteriorating bridges. It calls for real-time monitoring systems in line with guidelines from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to ensure public safety.

With inputs from PTI