Recent Bridge Failures Prompt Safety Audits
In the summer of 2024, 12 bridges collapsed in Bihar within a span of 20 days, marking a significant period of structural failure in the state. Following these incidents, the government ordered safety audits of major bridges across the region.
One specific case involved the ₹1,710-crore Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge across the Ganga. Portions of this structure collapsed in April 2022, June 2023, and August 2024. Expert studies identified design faults in the construction, including a recommendation from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to reconsider the entire design.
Further structural issues emerged with the Vikramshila Setu, a 4.7-kilometer bridge across the Ganga. An entire span of this bridge collapsed in May 2026. Officials and inspection teams had raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the structure between August 2024 and April 2026, prior to the collapse.
Historical Warnings on Construction Safety
Concerns regarding infrastructure longevity and safety have appeared in previous years. In 1976, the Mishra Committee warned of the vulnerability of Joshimath due to old landslide material. The committee recommended restrictions on heavy construction and proper drainage measures at that time.
More recently, by January 2023, cracks had appeared in hundreds of structures, indicating a broader pattern of neglect that extends beyond single projects.
The Priority of Spectacle Over Maintenance
A subscriber-written opinion piece published by ThePrint argues that India prioritizes political spectacle and inauguration over preventive maintenance of infrastructure. This perspective suggests that the focus on new, high-profile projects often overshadows the critical need for upkeep of existing assets.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad serves as a prominent example of this trend. Built on the site of the razed Motera cricket stadium at a reported cost of around $100 million, the facility was completed in 2020 and renamed while Narendra Modi was serving as Prime Minister.