Authorities on Saturday blocked heavy traffic on the 206.72-metre-long Gamta Mahichakul Bridge in Bihar’s Araria district after it was found that one of the bridge’s pillars had given way. The incident marks the second case of serious damage to the bridge reported in the state in less than a month.
The bridge over the Parmar River was built in 2022 at a cost $7.32 Crores. It connects dozens of villages in Forbesganj and Araria (Sadar) districts and serves as a lifeline for residents in flood-hit areas.
The bridge is in the defect liability period
Local residents reported the matter to district magistrate Vinod Dohan, officials said. A team of engineers visited the site on Saturday and submitted a report to Rural Works Department Executive Engineer Chandrashekar Prasad. “The bridge is currently in the Defects Liability Period (DLP) and the contractor (Prakash Construction) is contractually and legally obligated to repair and rectify any structural faults at its own expense,” Prasad said, adding that a letter in this regard has been sent to the contractor.
District Judge Dohan could not be reached for comment.
Concerned local residents
Activist Faisal Jawad Yassin claimed that local residents raised questions about the quality of the bridge during its construction, but their concerns were ignored.
The development comes three weeks after a 25-metre-long section of Vikramshila Setu collapsed over the Ganges in Bhagalpur, cutting off direct connectivity between north and south Bihar.
