Gaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Aunta-Simaria cable-stayed bridge, billed as Asia’s widest six-lane structure across the Ganga, promising faster travel and stronger economic links between North and South Bihar.
The 1.86-km-long, 34-metre-wide bridge on NH-31 is India’s widest extradosed cable-stayed bridge. Built parallel to the ageing Rajendra Setu of 1959, it will decongest traffic, cut detours of nearly 100 km, and ensure smoother freight movement across the river.
Constructed at a cost of ₹1,870 crore, the project overcame major hurdles in the flood-prone zone, with engineers using advanced extra-dosed technology to complete the landmark.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi today Dedicated to the Nation the Aunta (Mokama) – Simaria (Begusarai) 4/6 lane section of NH-31, including the 6-lane Bridge on River Ganga.
➡️Built parallel to the 70-year-old Rajendra Setu, the new bridge will cut travel distance for… pic.twitter.com/XTavhpWVIe
— NHAI (@NHAI_Official) August 22, 2025
Officials said the bridge will not only ease commuting but also boost trade, agriculture, and industry in the region. Farmers, traders, and makhana growers will gain quicker access to markets, while industrial hubs like Barauni will benefit from improved logistics.
Travel time between districts in North Bihar—Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, Purnea, Araria—and South Bihar—Patna, Sheikhpura, Nawada, Lakhisarai—will shrink sharply. Religious sites like Simaria Dham will also become more accessible.
“This bridge is not just about distance, but about connecting lives and economies,” a senior official said.
The inauguration came alongside a slew of projects worth nearly ₹13,000 crore, including the 660 MW Buxar thermal power plant, a modern cancer hospital in Muzaffarpur, Namami Gange sewerage networks, and key urban infrastructure works. Modi also flagged off two new trains — the Amrit Bharat Express from Gaya to Delhi and the Buddhist Circuit train from Vaishali to Koderma — aimed at boosting tourism and religious travel.
Symbolically handing over keys to new homeowners under the PM Awas Yojana, Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to “double-engine” growth, citing over four crore houses built nationwide in the past 11 years, including 38 lakh in Bihar.
Striking a political note, the PM said development under NDA has replaced the “era of loot and massacres” with roads, electricity, education and healthcare. He also linked Bihar’s resolve to India’s new defence posture, declaring that “Operation Sindoor has redrawn the nation’s security lines” after the Pahalgam terror attack.
With mega connectivity projects, modern healthcare, power expansion and upgraded railways, Friday’s announcements signal a major push to transform Bihar’s infrastructure, economy and employment landscape ahead of crucial political battles.
