The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred a PIL to the Patna High Court seeking the formation of a high-level expert committee to investigate the frequent collapses of bridges in Bihar.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the plea, which urged the Bihar government to conduct a structural audit and take necessary measures to identify and strengthen weak bridges. After reviewing the counter affidavit submitted by the state government, the bench decided to transfer the case to the Patna High Court.
“We have gone through the counter, and we are transferring it to the Patna High Court. The counter provides details about the inspections and actions being taken,” the CJI said during the proceedings.
Bridge Collapses
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel emphasized that despite multiple bridge collapses, no third-party inspection had been conducted. Justice Kumar also expressed concern, stating, “300 bridges collapsed! The concerned persons were suspended for a while and then reinstated.”
Following the discussion, the Supreme Court passed an order directing the court registry to transfer the matter to the Patna High Court within 4 weeks. The parties involved have been instructed to appear before the High Court on May 14.
Background Of The PIL
The PIL was initially filed in July 2024, during the tenure of a bench led by then CJI DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The petition was prompted by reports of at least nine bridge collapses, including those still under construction.
According to the PIL, these incidents raise serious concerns regarding the safety and reliability of Bihar’s bridge infrastructure, particularly given that the state is the most flood-prone in India. The petition argues that urgent intervention is required to prevent further disasters.
Demand For Structural Audits & Monitoring
The PIL calls for an immediate structural audit and the creation of a high-level expert committee to examine and continuously monitor all bridges across the state. It highlights multiple collapses in districts such as Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj, stressing that Bihar’s vulnerability to floods makes these failures even more dangerous.
“With 73.06% of Bihar’s total geographical area being flood-affected, the recurring collapse of bridges is a serious threat to public safety. Urgent intervention from the Hon’ble Court is needed to safeguard lives, especially as under-construction bridges are collapsing before completion,” the petition states.
The petitioner has also urged the implementation of real-time monitoring of bridges, following the methodology established by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under its policy dated March 4, 2024, for the preservation of national highways and centrally sponsored infrastructure projects.
With the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer the matter, all eyes are now on the Patna High Court to take further action on the issue of bridge safety in Bihar.
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