Rohtasgarh Ropeway Tower Collapses, Raising Serious Questions Over Construction Quality

Rohtas, Bihar: A major safety scare occurred in Rohtasgarh, Bihar, as a tower of the under-construction ropeway connecting Rohtas Nagar Panchayat to Rohiteshwar Dham collapsed during testing. The incident has raised serious concerns about construction quality, with locals expressing outrage over alleged lapses in supervision and adherence to safety standards.

During the test, the upper station and the associated tower of the ropeway fell, causing four cabins and auxiliary poles to crash to the ground. Fortunately, vigilant staff and technicians present at the site escaped without injury. The Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited (BRPANL) has formed a high-level committee under the chairman’s supervision to investigate the incident, with instructions to submit a report within 24 hours. Additionally, IIT Patna has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive design and quality audit of the project.

The much-anticipated ropeway, expected to be completed by 31 December 2025, suffered a setback reminiscent of a January 2025 incident in the same region, when a bridge connecting Bihar and Jharkhand collapsed during construction. Local residents rushed to the site immediately after the collapse, expressing fear, disappointment, and anger over construction standards and safety protocols. They questioned the structural integrity of the ropeway, arguing that if the tower failed under the weight of only four cabins during testing, passenger safety during full operation remains highly uncertain. Many called the incident a breach of public trust.

Engineer’s Statement
Senior BRPANL engineer Khursheed Karim stated that the collapse occurred during a load test when a wire got stuck, leading to structural failure. He clarified that several parts of the project are still under phased construction. A technical team from Kolkata will inspect the site, assess damages, and recommend corrective measures to ensure safe project completion. The ropeway will not be opened to the public until all tests are satisfactorily completed, and the company has assured that reconstruction costs will be borne by itself.

Former head Santosh Kumar Bhola described the incident as extremely unfortunate for Rohtas Nagar Panchayat and demanded a thorough investigation into construction quality. He stressed that responsible parties must be held accountable and not spared. He further noted that the region narrowly escaped a major tragedy.

Public Outrage
Residents criticized the lack of supervision during construction, alleging that despite the project’s massive scale, no senior officials monitored the work. They claimed the executing company carried out the project haphazardly, ultimately leading to the collapse. The 1,300-meter-long ropeway project, estimated at ₹13 crore, had its foundation laid on 12 February 2020. The state government approved the project to provide tourists and devotees easy access to Rohtasgarh Fort and nearby temples in the Kaimur Hills. Six years later, the project remains incomplete, with the company recently given a final deadline of 31 December 2025 to complete the work.

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