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The Rural Works Department in Bihar has suspended three engineers and moved to blacklist a contractor following the collapse of a section of an under-construction bridge over the Ghoghari river in Gopalganj district, officials said earlier this week. The reinforced cement concrete bridge, part of a INR 2.87 crore project, gave way while casting work was ongoing in Gangwa village's Siddhwalia block, with no casualties reported. A preliminary inspection by the district magistrate found apparent use of substandard materials and poor supervision, prompting immediate departmental action against the project's assistant and junior engineers. The contractor, Bapudham Construction of Motihari, faces blacklisting amid rising public concern over recurring infrastructure failures and oversight lapses in the state's rural works. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to assess quality control and future accountability measures.
The Bihar Rural Works Department has taken disciplinary action following the partial collapse of an under-construction bridge in Gopalganj district, suspending three government engineers and moving to blacklist the contractor engaged on the project. The incident occurred on 28 February on a 29-metre reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bridge over the Ghoghari river in Gangwa village's Siddhwalia block part of a rural connectivity initiative intended to enhance access within the district. Advertisement
No casualties were reported when the section of the bridge gave way during concrete casting, but the mishap has reignited concerns about construction quality and oversight in state infrastructure works. The project, awarded at an estimated cost of INR 2.87 crore, was scheduled for completion by early this month. The collapse prompted swift onsite inspection by Gopalganj District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha, who reported preliminary evidence of gross negligence in supervision and substandard material use.
In response to the findings, the Rural Works Department issued suspension orders against the assistant engineer, junior engineer, and an additional supervising official connected to the bridge contract. The official order cited lapses in adherence to quality management protocols and a failure to implement mandated supervision standards. Alongside personnel action, the district magistrate recommended that Bapudham Construction, the Motihari-based contractor responsible for the works, be blacklisted from future government tenders.
The decision underscores a growing focus by authorities on accountability in execution of public works, particularly after several infrastructure failures across the state in recent years. Locals in Gangwa and surrounding villages expressed alarm at the collapse, with community members alleging widespread use of inferior construction materials and insufficient reinforcement conditions they warned could predispose future incidents if not checked.
A high-level departmental inquiry has been ordered to examine the causes in detail and to recommend systemic measures to strengthen oversight of rural infrastructure projects. Officials indicated that the probe will assess contractor compliance, material testing documentation, and supervisory practices to prevent recurrence. The Bihar government's action reflects increasing administrative intolerance of construction irregularities as public scrutiny intensifies over the safety and durability of essential connectivity assets.
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