Bihar's bridge debacle: How government negligence led to never-before-seen infrastructure failures

"Yet again, the Bihar government’s inability to ensure basic infrastructure safety has left citizens questioning if their lives matter less than election promises."

->Subscribe on LinkedIn Reshi Notes!

Infrastructural failures have now become India's major concern, and recent incidents showed just how serious the matter is. In Bihar alone, 10 bridges collapsed within 15 days of construction, indicating the negligence and inefficiency of the system in developing infrastructure in the state. This article delves into the details of the incidents and the government's response, as well as the broad implications it is going to have on questions of public safety and accountability. (The Quint)

The Incidents: A Detailed Account

Within two weeks, ten bridges collapsed in Bihar. This kind of frequency has raised some serious questions about the quality of construction, maintenance practices, and the oversight mechanisms in place. Out of these ten, four bridges were located in Siwan, which has now emerged as the epicenter of this infrastructural debacle.

Key Incidents

Siwan Bridge Collapses:

• Location: Siwan, Bihar
• Date: Late June to early July 2024
• Impact: Voluminous local transportation disruption, reveals the potential fault in construction and maintenance practices.

Other Affected Areas:

• Different districts in Bihar reported similar collapses, which reflect that somewhere down the line, it's not an isolated incident but a flawed act in reality.

Government Response

Given the recent bridge collapses, the Government of Bihar suspended 15 engineers working under the water resources and rural works departments. The 5 July 2024 action was to address the alleged negligence and reinstate public faith. However, many observers see this as a reaction, more than a proactive solution to the underlying problems.

Broader Context: India's Infrastructure Failures

It is not a case of finality with the bridges collapsing in Bihar. Just a month ago, in June 2024, a roof at the Delhi airport collapsed following heavy rains, killing one person and injuring eight others. These incidents collectively paint a grim picture of the state of infrastructure in India.

The Delhi Airport Incident

• Date: June 2024
• Impact: Nine were injured, one was deceased, and substantial damage to airport facilities.
• Cause: Heavy rains and probable intrinsic structural weaknesses.

Public Outcry and Demand for Accountability

These recurring infrastructure failures have caused widespread public outcry among citizens who want greater accountability from their elected representatives. The events have served to be grim reminders of the dangers of inferior-quality construction and lack of adequate monitoring and control.

Analysis: Root Causes and Systemic Issues

The reasons for collapsing bridges and other such structures should be understood, meaning the systemic problems at work here should be known.

Quality of Construction

• Materials: The inferior quality of materials used is the most common reason cited for failures or infrastructural collapses.
• Construction Practices: Inadequate workmanship and lack of adherence to safety standards have made the structure vulnerable.

Maintenance and Oversight

• Inadequate and Infrequent Inspections: It does not identify or deal with the potential weakness in the structure.
• Corruption and Negligence: Corruption in construction and maintenance departments is responsible for compromising safety and quality standards.

Public Safety Implications

Collapsed bridges and other infrastructures pose severe risks to public safety. These can kill people, cause substantial injuries, and significantly disrupt economic activities. As such, infrastructure integrity and safety are key to safeguarding citizens' lives while maintaining public trust.

Government Initiatives and Future Directions

Responding to these incidents, the government has an immediate necessity to adopt stringent measures to prevent repeated failures of the infrastructure.

Measures Proposed:

• Strengthen Regulations: Work on better standards in construction and maintenance to achieve durability and safety of structures.
• More Accountability: Mechanisms of inquiry call for transparency, and the law has to take its course.
• Greater Investment: Governments are asked to put adequate funds for both the maintenance and upgradation of their respective infrastructure properly.

Conclusion

The collapse of ten bridges in Bihar within a matter of days is a pointer to the deep systemic problems in India's infrastructure sector. While the suspension of engineers is a welcome step toward accountability, the problems call for wholesale reforms at a deeper level to get to the root of these failures. Collapsing infrastructure poses an acute danger to public safety and, if not addressed in time, can fundamentally undermine sustainable growth and development.

References

• The Quint: 10 Bridges Collapse in Bihar in Days

This will further be substantiated by additional sources and articles about the infrastructure failures that happened in India, governmental reports, and expert analyses to present a complete picture of the subject.

In such scenarios, the whole analysis by this article of those incidents and their impacts aims to bring upfront the need for urgent implementation of systemic reforms in India's practices regarding infrastructure development and maintenance.

Regards,

Sahil Sajad

?? Stay informed and engaged! Don't miss out on our insightful updates and analyses on critical issues. Subscribe to the newsletter Reshi Notes for in-depth perspectives delivered straight to your inbox! Subscribe on LinkedIn Reshi Notes!

"Once again, the Indian government demonstrates that building solid infrastructure is as low a priority as fulfilling election promises." - Sahil Sajad