Bihar bridge collapse: HC demands action taken report, construction firm asked for point-by-point details

• Patna High Court demands study report from contractor after bridge collapse in Bhagalpur
• Public interest litigation seeks blacklisting and inquiry into second bridge collapse in Bhagalpur
• High Court seeks clarification on 16 points, asks company and state government to submit reports

Taking a serious view of the collapse of a constructed section of a bridge over the river Ganges in Bhagalpur, the Patna High Court on Wednesday directed SP Singhla Construction Private Limited, the firm awarded the contract by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, to submit its study report regarding the construction work at the site at specific points, detailing the causes that may have caused the crash.

After hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social worker Lalan Kumar seeking blacklisting of the firm and an inquiry into the second collapse in 14 months by a high court judge, Justice Purnendu Singh said he was shocked. the collapse of the constructed part of the bridge on June 4, as some part of the bridge collapsed on April 13 last year.

"According to media reports, the cause of the collapse is that the pillars could not support the load of the superstructure. It is also said that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, has pointed out the design flaw in its report. The court is concerned to protect the interests of the general public, to prevent the misuse of public money and the exploitation of natural resources, which was caused by laxity on the part of the state administration and the contractor,” the court said in a request for clarification. seeking clarification on 16 points from the firm. 

The court asked the company to provide details on the nature of flow flowing into the site, nature and behavior of foundation soil layers, existing construction issues, environmental impact due to collapse, detailed project report (DPR) regarding field survey including geologist's certificate with detailed geostrata, reports regarding the river bed profile, its rock type and foundation found under the construction site, soil survey foundation details, etc.

The court also sought hydrological data, model studies, purchase receipt detailing GST of materials used in construction, fee incurred for obtaining expert opinions from various agencies before commencement of work and from time to time thereafter and audited balance sheet of the company and annual report submitted to the Registrar of Companies relating to to this project.

It also asked the state government to submit its action taken report on the next date of hearing which is June 21 and that the managing director of SP Singhla Construction Private Limited along with his team of experts be present in the court on that day.

The state government has already sent a notice to the company as to why it should not be blacklisted. The company was supposed to respond within 15 days, which ends on June 23. The company won several contracts in the state.