Supreme Court Demands Bihar Bridge Audits

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Bihar government in response to a petition filed by Advocate Brajesh Singh demanding structural audits of all existing and under-construction bridges in the state. The petition cites frequent bridge collapses and calls for either the demolition or retrofitting of weak structures. Bihar, being the most flood-prone state in India, faces significant risks with 73.06% of its area affected by floods. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud led a bench that instructed the Bihar government and relevant authorities, including the NHAI, to respond. The petition calls for the creation of an expert committee to monitor the health of bridges and a comprehensive database for ongoing assessment. Recent incidents underscore the urgency, with ten bridges collapsing within the last four weeks amid heavy rainfall.