The Bihar government has taken strict action against officials and a contractor following the collapse of a newly built ropeway during a trial run in Rohtas district. An inquiry has uncovered "grave negligence" and violations of safety norms, leading to the suspension of two engineers and the initiation of blacklisting proceedings against the construction firm.
Probe Uncovers Technical Faults and Safety Lapses
Road Construction Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, addressing the media on Tuesday, stated that the investigation report highlighted serious failures. "The inquiry has revealed grave negligence by the contractor as well as departmental engineers," Jaiswal said. The report specifically cited "technical faults, along with violation of safety norms and prescribed procedures during the trial run."
The incident occurred on December 26 during a load test for the ropeway project, designed to improve tourist access to the historic Rohtasgarh Fort. During the test, a tower and four cabins being used in the trial were damaged. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Absence of Contractor Personnel Deemed Gross Negligence
Minister Jaiswal provided specific details on the chain of failure. He explained that tower number five was damaged when the wire rope slipped during the return movement of the cabins. Shockingly, the investigation found that no representative of the contractor was present at the terminal point or near the critical tower during the crucial trial operation.
"The investigation found that the trial was conducted without adequate safety arrangements. Neither the contractor’s representatives nor technical personnel were present at critical locations. This amounts to gross negligence," the Minister emphasized.
Immediate Actions and Further Expert Review
Based on the damning findings, the state government has decided to suspend the project engineer and the junior engineer associated with the construction. Simultaneously, the process to blacklist Kolkata-based Ropeway and Resource Private Limited (RRPL) has been initiated.
To ensure a comprehensive technical review, the government has also engaged experts from IIT Patna. They have been tasked with conducting an additional examination of the load distribution and structural plans to determine if any design flaws contributed to the collapse. Their report is awaited.
The Rs 13 crore project is being implemented under the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation. Spanning 1,324 metres and featuring 18 cabins with a capacity of four passengers each, it was intended to connect Rohtas block to Rohtasgarh Fort and Rohiteshwar Dham. The project, which has faced repeated delays since work began in February 2020, was scheduled to open to tourists in January 2026.
