By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A slab between pillar no nine and ten of under construction four lane mega bridge over River Ganga between Sultanganj in this district and Agwani Ghat in Khagaria district collapsed and fell in river today. None was injured in the accident.
This is third time a portion has collapsed since foundation of the under-construction bride was laid in February 2014. Officially reason behind collapse of the slab between pillar no nine and ten has not been stated yet. However, it is largely felt with river in spate, increased pressure of water contributed in collapse of the structure.
As per information at site of collapse no new construction work was being undertaken at present. After collapse of portion of superstructure of the bridge in June last year the company entrusted with construction work of the bridge was directed for dismantling the portions where design and construction faults were detected.
It may be mentioned superstructure over pillars no ten, eleven and twelve had collapsed last year. Earlier in April 2022 also a portion of superstructure of the under-construction bridge had collapsed in rain and storm.
A sizeable portion of the bridge beside approach road to the bridge was constructed on resumption of construction work of the bridge after collapse of super structure in 2022. However, with collapse of superstructure of bridge again last year questions were raised on quality of construction work.
Considered to be jinxed, people in many cases have again started raising question on quality of construction work following collapse of slab of the bridge today.
The construction work of3.160 kilometer long bridge would involve expenditure of Rs 1710.77 crore as per initial estimate. The bridge that would link southern and northern parts of the state would connect NH-80 and NH-31. The construction of the bridge is expected to reduce traffic load on existing bridges over Ganga in state particularly Vikramshila Setu here.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
