Bihar bridge collapses twice in 14 months; construction co SP Singla under scanner for projects in Assam and Manipur

Construction company SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd, makers of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge over the Ganga in Bhagalpur, Bihar, that has collapsed twice in just 14 months is under the scanner for its projects in Assam and Manipur. Questions are being asked if the Assam and Manipur governments should continue with the company for some of the key infra projects in both the northeastern states.

After the dramatic collapse of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge on June 4 (the earlier collapse was in April, 2022) that is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 1710 crore, questions are now being asked if the construction company should be allowed to go ahead with its projects in Assam and Manipur. SP Singla Constructions has missed 8 deadlines since the construction of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge began in 2014.

Some of the key projects that the Haryana based construction company is handling in Assam are:

1. Bridge across river Brahmputra connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati in Assam. It is being constructed under the Assam Bridge Project of the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. The total cost of the bridge is estimated at Rs 2,608.68 crore. The main portion of the bridge will be 1.24 km long.
2. Construction of new 2 Lane Bridge across Brahmaputra at Jogighopa. The bridge will have its approaches across River Brahmaputra on NH-17. The length of the bridge and the approach road is 4.39 km. This project was sanctioned with a budget of Rs 746.76 crore.
3. Improvement and upgradation of road from Malichapori, Majuli to Bongalmara, Lakhimpur and construction of two major four-lane bridges over the rivers Subansiri and Luit. The road portion of the project is of two lanes. The estimated project cost is Rs 785.364 crore.

In Manipur, SP Singla construction company has won the contract for the construction of a bridge over river Iring for new BG Railway line between Jiribam – Tipul (Imphal). The bridge is a part of the 111 km long Jiribam-Imphal railway project.