PATNA, June 24 -- Movement of heavy vehicles has been halted on a key stretch of Sasaram-Buxar state highway for safety reasons after a decades-old bridge, roughly 28-30 metres long, over Sone canal developed cracks in its girder near Baridih on the Chausa route, officials of the road construction department (RCD) said here on Monday.

A horizontal barrier has been placed, allowing only light vehicles to pass. Engineers from Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) inspected the site and repair work will begin once estimates are final. A senior RCD executive engineer, speaking anonymously, said, "The department moved quickly once the damage came to light."

The problem, however, runs much deeper. In recent years, Bihar has earned an ...