The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has raised serious concerns over the structural safety of aging bridges in Uttar Pradesh while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in last week, demanding a comprehensive structural audit of the state’s bridges. The court was informed by the state government that a structural study identified 82 bridges as unsafe, yet these remain operational. The government assured the court that alternative arrangements are under active consideration and will be implemented at the earliest.
A division bench comprising Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Ajay Kumar Srivastava directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit within two weeks, clarifying the steps taken to address the issue. The order was passed during the hearing of a PIL filed by Gyanendra Nath Pandey and others, which sought a thorough structural review of bridges, particularly those over 50 years old.
The petitioners argued that many bridges in Uttar Pradesh are so old that they necessitate an extensive safety audit and potential restrictions on their use. They highlighted the risks posed by continued operation of such structures, urging the court to mandate immediate action. In response, the state government informed the court that Uttar Pradesh has over 2,800 bridges, of which 82 were deemed unsafe following a statewide structural study.
The High Court emphasized the need for a clear record and directed the government to include in its affidavit the composition of the expert committee that conducted the structural study. Additionally, the court ordered the submission of a detailed chart specifying the locations and ages of the unsafe bridges to facilitate effective safety monitoring and planned implementation of remedial measures.
The matter has been listed for further hearing after two weeks, with the court underscoring the urgency of ensuring public safety and infrastructure reliability.
