Real Estate Broker Builds 'Fake Bridge' In Bihar To Artificially Hike Land Prices! [Video]

Bihar has lately become famous for its 'falling bridges'. This time, however, the place has made 'bridge' headlines in the strangest way possible! In the Purnea district, a small bridge was 'found built' over the Kari Koshi River. Authorities believe it was constructed by private individuals—possibly land brokers—trying to inflate the prices of nearby land in which they had stakes in. If completed, this bridge would connect the mainland along Kari Kosi to the floodplains. The project could thus lure buyers from the latter.

If you don't know yet, the floodplains do not have any village or settlement on them. They are merely farmlands that remain underwater from May till winter. Thus, only one paddy crop can be cultivated there in a year.

“We plant in January-February, and harvest by late April or early May, when the floods come and the whole area gets submerged… Even during the dry months, we have to wade through knee-deep water or use a tractor… What’s the point of a bridge to these plains? It will only ruin us.” says a farmer. Around 28 acres of the floodplains that fall under the bridge were affected by the construction process.

The bridge measures 60 feet in length and 10 feet in width. It was seen in Ward Number 4 of the Rahmat Nagar area. Locals say that the bridge was built in January this year. The people who built it said they were working on a “government project”.

However, it turns out land sharks could have built it to sell their flood-prone farm plots at inflated prices and make fortunes out of it. Purnea is already known to get an airport, and making buyers believe that there is additional infrastucture like roads and bridges would only push prices upwards.

Locals say that the land sharks could have had plans to connect the mainland with the floodplains with the bridge and lure outsiders aware of the place's growth projects into buying land on the floodplains. These unaware purchases would land them in trouble when the river floods the area.

Purnea Municipal Commissioner Kumar Mangalam told PTI that the bridge measured 60 feet in length and 10 feet in width and was built by private persons without the knowledge or consent of the civic body- the Purnea Municipal Corporation (PMC). The commissioner has also sought clarification from the Water Resources Department as well.

Mangalam added that the bridge was built without the knowledge of the PMC and therefore would have to be demolished. A team of officials was soon sent to take action- to demolish the illegal construction. The commissioner also said that these officials faced resistance from the local residents of the place. These people could be looking to sell their lands as well.

"We will certainly take action as per the existing law," said a confident Mangalam.

He, however, doesn't rule out the possibility of land mafia involvement. The locals, however, refused to disclose the identities of those behind the construction. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and are determined to take actions against the violators.

Not The Only Such Incident

This isn’t an isolated incident in Bihar. A similar case was reported in Muzaffarpur, where a bridge was built over the Burhi Gandak River without proper approach roads. Images of the same had gone viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the public. Ahead of CM Nitish Kumar's visit in December 2024, the walls of this structure were whitewashed. The Chief Minister, however, had no plans to visit the area.