The Collapse Of Several Pillars Of Aguwani-Sultanganj Bridge: An Act Of Government Negligence Or The Incompetency Of Indian Civil Companies!

On Sunday, a bridge built across the Ganga river in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district for 1,716 crores collapsed. The four-lane bridge being constructed between Sultanganj in Bhagalpur and Aguwani in the Khagaria district collapsed for the second time. The state government has investigated the event. Last year, the bridge’s framework collapsed owing to high winds and rain.

The deadline to construct the bridge, which began in 2014, has been missed eight times. Is it a sign of Indian governance failure or the lack of Indian competency in Indian engineers?

According to witnesses, numerous guys were working on the bridge when it began to collapse. However, there have been no data of casualties. The bridge was decided to be completed in 2019. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for the Aguwani Ghat bridge in Khagaria on February 23, 2014. Mr Kumar launched the project on March 9, 2015, and it began in 2016.

The extensions of Deadlines, continuously!

Recall the famous dialogue of actor Sunny Deol from the movie Damini; Taarik pe Taarik, Taarik pe Taarik, Taarik pe Taarik! This is happening in reality in this case. 

The work was planned to be finished by March 2019. However, even 25% of it could only be done effectively afterwards. The deadline was later extended by the State Government to March 2020, then to 2022. Instead of penalising the building business for the delay, the government extended the deadline. 

The bridge’s superstructure between pillars 4 and 6 collapsed on April 30, 2022, owing to high winds and rain. Serious concerns were made regarding the building work then, but no action was taken against the corporation. Instead, extra time was provided to the corporation to finish the bridge construction. The bridge is significant since it connects Bihar‘s north and south.

No action, no record of money wasted, no description of resources and time wasted, no sympathy for the people working there, just an extension of the deadline! It seems disgusting that a dialogue that is supposed to be a part of entertainment represents the condition of the government structure in India. 

Soon after learning of the bridge collapse, the Chief Minister summoned officials from the road construction department and directed them to launch an investigation, in addition to taking stern punishment against those involved. The road building department is overseen by Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who briefed the media later that evening, stressing that harsh punishment will be taken against anyone found guilty.

Hush! Now we can relax, as the government interfered and voiced strict action would be taken against those responsible. But wait, will it really happen? To get the answer, recall the wrestler protest at Jantar-Mantar, where it took months for the official to register a single FIR and our proud wrestlers were slashed on roads like insects. Do you think things will affect such a kind of Democracy?

The system is relaxed as no casualties happen. But what would happen if it occurs? Who will take responsibility for those who are injured? Nah, at that time, our so-called governance will come up with relief and compensation packages and do an act of self-praising that they are s concerned about the common man! But no proper inquiry, no responsibility, no action, nothing. 

Moreover, the fall or collapse of bridges is not a new thing. It’s been on the news for quite a while. So who is to blame for this? Is our government structure incapable of giving projects to good companies, or is it a lack of Indian engineering companies that are incompetent to create establishments that can withstand on the Indian lands? Whosoever it is, ultimately, it is the common man who suffers at all!

Proofread & Published By Naveenika Chauhan