Patna: A portion of Patna’s newly inaugurated double-deck flyover has reportedly sunk just weeks after being opened to the public, following days of relentless rainfall.

The flyover, built at a cost of Rs 422 crore, was inaugurated on 11 June 2025 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and spans the congested Ashok Rajpath corridor.

What happened to the flyover?

A video now viral on social media shows visible damage to a section of the flyover, allegedly caused by heavy rainfall and subsequent waterlogging in the area. The footage has fuelled public anger and raised questions about the structural integrity of the project. Authorities are yet to confirm the extent of the damage or whether a full collapse occurred, but concerns over public safety are mounting.

What is the structure of the double-deck flyover?

The infrastructure comprises two decks. The upper deck stretches 2,175.5 metres from Gandhi Maidan to Science College, while the lower deck spans 1,449.3 metres, facilitating vehicle movement from Patna College to Gandhi Maidan near BN College. Both decks are 8.5 metres wide and were designed to decongest one of the city's busiest corridors.

Why did this happen so soon after inauguration?

The incident comes amid severe monsoon conditions in Bihar, which have led to widespread flooding in areas including Kankarbagh, Rajendra Nagar, Exhibition Road, and Gandhi Maidan. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds in the state over the next four days, especially in districts like Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur.

Officials had previously envisioned the Ashok Rajpath stretch as a four-layer transit corridor — with two flyover tiers, a service road at ground level, and an underground metro line. However, the recent incident has reignited public scrutiny over large-scale infrastructure projects and allegations of corruption and poor oversight in construction quality.

While a formal probe is awaited, demands are rising for an independent safety audit and accountability. With more rainfall expected, there are concerns that other infrastructure in the flood-hit city could be similarly vulnerable. As of now, no official casualties have been reported in connection with the incident.

The sinking of a portion of the Rs 422 crore flyover within two months of its inauguration casts a shadow over public trust in infrastructure development in Bihar, highlighting the urgent need for transparency, quality control, and disaster-resilient construction practices.
(With ANI inputs)