Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday inspected the under-construction Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane Ganga bridge project and directed officials to expedite the remaining work. Authorities said the ambitious project, costing over ₹5,000 crore, is expected to be completed by April this year.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister asked officials to speed up construction and ensure that the approach roads are finished on time to allow smooth and uninterrupted traffic movement. He said the project would provide seamless road connectivity between the region and the state capital, Patna.
Kumar said the bridge would boost the development of agriculture, industry and other businesses in the area. It would also make it easier for patients to reach Patna for treatment during medical emergencies.
He noted that connectivity between Patna and Raghopur had already improved after the inauguration of the first phase of the bridge in June 2025. The Chief Minister has been regularly reviewing the project and urging officials to complete it at the earliest.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to reduce traffic pressure on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu by providing an alternative route between North and South Bihar. It will also make travel to various districts of North Bihar easier for those coming from outside Patna.
Kumar said the project would be connected to the Amas–Darbhanga Expressway, benefiting travellers heading towards Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani by significantly reducing travel time.
The six-lane greenfield project, spanning a total length of 19.76 km, is being built across the Ganga between Kacchi Dargah in Patna district (on NH-30) and Bidupur in Vaishali district (on NH-103). It includes a 9.76-km-long bridge and about 10 km of approach roads.
The first phase, covering a 4.57-km stretch from Kacchi Dargah to Raghopur Diyara, was inaugurated on June 23, 2025. The second phase involves construction from the Hajipur–Mahnar road (NH-122B) to Chaksikandar (NH-322), while the third phase connects Raghopur Diyara to the Hajipur–Mahnar road.
Construction of the bridge was originally planned to begin in 2011 but started only in 2016 under a public-private partnership model. The project was initially scheduled for completion by 2020, but delays pushed the timeline and increased costs. A section was finally opened in 2025, with full completion now targeted for April.
The cable-stayed bridge, supported by 67 piers, has a span of 160 metres between each pier. It stands 13 metres above the Ganga’s water level to allow uninterrupted navigation beneath it.
Officials said the bridge would significantly cut travel time, as vehicles from districts like Nawada, Munger and Nalanda would no longer need to pass through Patna to reach North Bihar. It is also expected to improve connectivity to Jharkhand and Nepal.
JDU national working president and MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, Road Construction Department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal and other senior officials were present during the inspection.
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