On November 18 last year, the top court had granted the last opportunity to the Bihar government and others to file its response to the PIL on the issue.Prior to this, petitioner Singh had moved the court seeking its nod to bring on record various news reports and additional documents to highlight the dilapidated condition of bridges in Bihar.The court on July 29, 2024 had sought responses from the Bihar government and others, including the NHAI on the plea.The PIL sought directions for a structural audit and setting up of an expert panel to identify bridges that can be either strengthened or demolished based on its findings.Besides the state and the NHAI, the top court in July last year had also issued notices to the road construction department’s additional chief secretary, Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited chairperson and rural works department’s additional chief secretary.Ten incidents of bridge collapse have been reported in Bihar’s Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj districts from May to July last year.Many claimed that heavy rainfall might have led to the incidents.The PIL raised concerns about the safety and longevity of the bridges in the state that usually witnesses heavy rains and floods during the Monsoon.Besides setting up a high-level expert panel, it also sought real-time monitoring of the bridges as per the parameters laid by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.The petitioner highlighted that Bihar is the most flood-prone state in India.The total flood-affected area in the state is 68,800 square km which is 73.06 per cent of its total geographical area, he mentioned.
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