by Alok Mishra
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday inspected the under-construction Bakhtiyarpur–Tajpur Ganga Bridge and directed officials to accelerate the pace of work, stressing its vital role in connecting North and South Bihar and easing public movement.
During his visit from Karjan (on the Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama four-lane bypass) to the Ganga riverbanks via Kalyanpur, Nitish reviewed the progress of the 5.5-km-long greenfield bridge project. He was briefed by Road Construction Secretary Sandeep Pudukalkatti, who informed that 60% of the construction is complete.
The bridge will directly link NH-31 near Karjan (Bakhtiyarpur) with NH-28 at Tajpur (Samastipur), creating a major alternative route for traffic coming from Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai. It is expected to reduce congestion on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Rajendra Setu and shorten travel time to key religious, educational, and medical destinations across the state.
So far, the 16.2-km approach road from Tajpur to Chaklalshahi has been completed, while work is ongoing on the approach road and structures on the Patna side. The chief minister assured that there is no shortage of funds and the state government will provide all necessary support to ensure timely completion.
The ₹2,875.02 crore bridge project, being executed by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation, spans a total of 51.26 km — including 5.51 km of river bridge and 45.75 km of approach roads.
