High-Level Review of Bridge Safety in Bihar Conducted by Road Construction Department
In a significant review meeting led by the Secretary of the Road Construction Department, Bihar has identified 638 bridges over 60 meters in length for safety inspections. The findings revealed 23 bridges in critical condition, with immediate repair actions initiated on several. The meeting emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring and strict adherence to safety standards to prevent accidents. With IIT Patna's involvement in assessing vital bridges, the state aims to enhance transportation safety under the Chief Minister's guidance. Discover the full details of this crucial initiative.
| Jun 13, 2026, 18:26 IST
Bridge Safety Review Meeting in Bihar
Patna. A high-level meeting was held today in the departmental conference room under the leadership of Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary of the Road Construction Department, to review the safety and current status of bridges longer than 60 meters under the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited (BRPNNL). Senior engineers from the department and officials from the bridge corporation were present at this review meeting.
During the review, the Secretary was informed that a total of 638 bridges exceeding 60 meters in length have been identified across the state, and inspections for all these bridges have been completed. The inspections covered 49 bridges in West Champaran, 36 in Patna, 39 in Muzaffarpur, 38 in Araria, 27 in Purnia, 37 in Kishanganj, 36 in Katihar, 35 in Supaul, 30 in East Champaran, 29 in Darbhanga, 25 in Gaya, 20 in Nawada, 16 in Jamui, and 19 in Saharsa.
Out of the inspected bridges, 23 were found to be in critical condition, with repair and strengthening work already underway on 10 of them. New bridges will be constructed at five critical locations. To ensure passenger safety, heavy vehicles are currently prohibited from four bridges, allowing only light vehicles to operate. Additionally, alternative diversion construction is in progress at another sensitive site to facilitate smooth traffic flow. The tender process for the maintenance of eight bridges is also being finalized. The Secretary directed that the tender process be completed promptly.
Furthermore, the inspection revealed that 50 bridges require general repairs and strengthening. Work is being carried out swiftly under the supervision of departmental engineers. The Secretary reviewed the inspection reports for each bridge and instructed engineers to take immediate necessary actions. He emphasized that any bridges identified as needing repairs should commence work immediately on a war footing.
It was also reported during the meeting that IIT Patna has inspected 47 bridges longer than 250 meters, which are considered extremely important and vital lifelines for the state. Further actions are being taken based on the preliminary report from IIT.
The Secretary stated that arrangements should be strengthened for continuous monitoring of bridges to ensure timely alerts for any potential damage and to prevent major accidents. He warned that strict disciplinary actions would be taken against engineers in divisions where work pace is slow or quality is compromised. He clarified that under the guidance of the honorable Chief Minister, making transportation safe and efficient in the state is the department's top priority. Any laxity in the maintenance and safety standards of bridges will not be tolerated.