Ropeway Collapses During Trial in Bihar’s Rohtas; Project Faces Tough Questions

A newly built passenger ropeway in Bihar's Rohtas district collapsed during a trial run on Friday, narrowly preventing what could have been a major tragedy. The structure failed mid-testing, damaging four trolleys and a key support pillar, but no injuries were reported among workers supervising the run.

The ropeway, part of a tourism project meant to link Rohtas block with Rohtasgarh Fort and Rohiteshwar Dham, had not yet been opened to the public. The collapse has brought the engineering quality of the ₹12.35-crore project under scrutiny, shaking public confidence and raising questions about safety checks before launch.

According to Khursheed Karim, Senior Engineer at Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, the system malfunctioned while increasing load during the test.

"Trial work is still ongoing. While load was being added, a wire got stuck, which led to the damage. Much of the construction is still underway," he clarified, adding that a specialised team from Kolkata is being sent to examine the failure. He stressed that the service will not be operated for visitors until officials are "fully satisfied" with the performance and security measures.

The incident has prompted strong criticism from civil society and legal voices.

Adv. Rakesh K. Singh, Senior Managing Partner, RKS Associate, called the collapse "an inexcusable embarrassment" for the administration.

"A ropeway falling apart even before inauguration is not a simple mistake - it points to gaps in planning, supervision, and accountability. Celebrating that 'no lives were lost' cannot replace responsibility. Imagine the consequences if tourists had been inside instead of empty trolleys," he said.

Locals, who had hoped the ropeway would boost tourism and ease access to heritage sites, now demand a transparent probe, punishment for any negligence, and assurance that no shortcuts will be taken before reopening.

For now, testing remains suspended. All eyes are on the upcoming technical investigation report, which will determine whether the ropeway will move forward - or become another stalled infrastructure story in Bihar.