Bihar bridge collapse: Construction firm also linked to Gujarat infra projects
The infrastructure firm responsible for the collapsed Aguwani-Sultanganj Ganga bridge in Bihar is also the contractor for the Signature Bridge project in Dwarka and two other infra-building projects in Gujarat.
PremiumThe under-construction bridge collapse in Bihar's Bhagalpur area has raised huge concerns. The Aguwani-Sultanganj Ganga bridge was being built at the cost of ₹1,760 crore. The visuals of the bridge collapse were widely shared on social media platforms with people questioning the quality of construction.
According to a report published by The Indian Express, the infrastructure firm constructing the Bihar bridge which has recently collapsed is also the contractor of the Signature bridge project in Dwarka along with two other infra-building projects in Gujarat.
Government officials on Monday informed that the infrastructure firm ‘SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd’, the company which is building a ₹962 crore four-lane cable-stayed Signature Bridge across the sea connecting the island of Bet Dwarka to Okha on the mainland, is now under the scanner, Indian Express reported.
The incident took place in the Bhagalpur district on Sunday night - the second time that the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge over the river Ganga has collapsed.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe into the collapse. The CM said on Monday that he had instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the “poor construction work".
"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," he said.
Images of the bridge collapse that took place in Khagaria evoked immediate criticisms from the opposition, prompting Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction Department, Pratyay Amrit, to hold a hurried press conference.
“There is a tradition of seeking commission (bribe) in this government. It is a consequence of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar mentality of political instability that there's administrative anarchy and corruption. System is collapsing but they are talking about Opposition unity," asserted Leader of Opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha.
He further stated that there should be an immediate enquiry into the incident.
"There needs to be accountabilty in this incident. Those involved in corruption in the government have fixed their commissions. Where is your zero tolerance on the corruption?" he said.
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