BHAGALPUR: In a major setback to the ongoing construction of the four-lane SultanganjAguani Ghat bridge across the Ganga in , its super structure connecting Sultanganj
in Bhagalpur with Khagaria collapsed Sunday evening. According to sources, at least 30
slabs of several pillars, including pillar nos. 9, 10 and 11, measuring around 100ft, collapsed.
The estimated cost of the bridge is Rs 1,710 crore.

This is the second such collapse on the same under-construction bridge. In April 2022, the
super structures of the pillar nos. 4, 5 and 6 had collapsed. The loose cable stand was
stated to be the reason behind the incident whereas a section of people had blamed use
of poor construction material for the 2022 mishap

CM Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe into the bridge collapse and asked Pratyaya Amrit,
additional chief secretary of the state road construction department, to identify those
responsible and take stern action against them.
Nitish had laid the foundation on February 23, 2014. The bridge was projected to be
completed by March 2020 but the completion has already been delayed by over three
years. Now the Sunday incident came as a big setback for the government and people of
Bhagalpur and Khagaria

The 3.16km-long bridge would be the sixth one across the Ganga to connect the northern
part of Bihar (NH 31) with the southern part (NH 80) between Patna and Bhagalpur, and
the second bridge across Ganga in Bhagalpur district.
Loose cable blamed for bridge accident last year
Last year, a loose cable was blamed for accident, while there were also accusations of
faulty and substandard material being used in the construction. The latest accident could
set the completion of the bridge by a couple of years, at least, sources said.
The bridge would be the sixth on the Ganga to connect northern Bihar with its south,
reducing travel time in a vast swathe covering Sultanagnj, Khagaria, Saharsa, Madhepura
and Supaul. The project covers 23.16km, with an approach road of 4km on Sultanganj side
and 16km at other end.