Bihar's under-construction Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge collapses into Ganga again
The under-construction Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge in Bihar has hit another roadblock again. A section of the superstructure between pillars 9 and 10 collapsed into the Ganga River on Saturday. This incident marks the third time a part of this bridge has fallen into the river, raising serious concerns about its structural integrity and construction quality.
No injuries reported
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this latest incident. However, the construction company responsible for the project, SK Singla Construction Pvt. Ltd., has not yet provided any clarification regarding this incident. The bridge project, initiated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aims to connect Sultanganj in Bhagalpur District with Aguani Ghat in Khagaria District. The goal is to facilitate easier travel from Bhagalpur to Jharkhand via Khagaria and reduce traffic congestion on the Vikramshila Bridge.
Experts point to misalignment issues as likely cause
Experts have suggested that misalignment issues could be a potential cause for these repeated failures. The foundation stone for the 3.16km bridge was laid on February 23, 2014, with construction beginning on March 9, 2015. Despite nearly nine years of work and an allocation of ₹1,710 crore by the Bihar government, the bridge remains incomplete due to these ongoing issues.
