'Shocked': Patna HC Pulls Up Nitish Govt, Contractor For 'Laxity' Over Bihar Bridge Collapse
The Patna High Court blamed the laxity of the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and the contractor concerned for the collapse of part of the four-lane Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge.
The Patna High Court on Wednesday blamed laxity of the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and the contractor concerned for the collapse of part of the four-lane Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge, being built over the Ganga in Bhagalpur district, on June 4, as reported by the news agency PTI. “This court is shocked at the collapse of constructed part of the bridge on June 4... Last year also, while the construction work was going on, some structure of the bridge had collapsed on April 13,” the bench of Justice Purnendu Singh said, as quoted by PTI. The incident occurred due to the laxity of the state government and the contractor, the court observed.
The high court ordered the state government to submit the action taken report on the issue. It also asked the managing director of the firm constructing the bridge to remain present before the court along with his expert team on June 21, when the matter will come up for hearing again.
The bench said it seeks to prevent the misuse of public money and exploitation of natural resources in the interest of the society. The court directed the contractor SP Singla Construction Pvt Ltd to submit its study report relating to construction work in connection with the Rs 1,710 crore bridge.
“This court finds that the state government has taken the matter of collapsing of the bridge seriously and has also taken action against its authorities and the company. The state government is directed to submit its action taken report on the next date of hearing,” it said. The project started in 2014 and was scheduled to be completed in 2019.
On Thursday, a major security lapse took place in the security of Nitish Kumar. He was out on his daily morning walk in Patna today when two bikers came very close to the chief minister. He was forced to swiftly jump from the road onto the sidewalk to ensure his safety. According to sources, the incident occurred while he was heading from his residence towards 7 Circular Road.
Security personnel detained the bikers and are interrogating them, said reports. After the incident, the SSG (Special Security Group) commandant and Patna SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) were summoned to the Chief Minister's residence.
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