Patna: Bihar is set to make infrastructure history with the completion of Asia’s widest extra dosed cable-stayed six-lane road bridge, connecting Simaria in Begusarai to Aunta in Mokama across the Ganga. Built at a cost of Rs 1,161 crore, the bridge is expected to be virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his proposed visit to Madhubani on April 24, although the event is yet to be officially confirmed.
The project, spanning 8.15km in total, includes the 1.865km main bridge and approach roads on both banks. Finishing work is currently being expedited, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the executing agency conducting regular reviews. Alongside this bridge, the Prime Minister may also inaugurate the Bakhtiarpur–Mokama Greenfield road.
Located near Hathidah railway station, the bridge features a newly completed rail overbridge (ROB) on one side, while final touches are being applied to the other. Signage and reflector tape are being installed across the bridge and its approach roads to enhance night-time safety, especially during power outages.
The structure boasts advanced design features, with the entire load of the bridge resting on the cable-stayed system. It includes two 13-metre wide, three-lane roads and 1.5-metre wide footpaths on either side, facilitating safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheelers.
The bridge’s connectivity improvements are equally significant. It links key regions of North Bihar (such as Darbhanga, Samastipur, Saharsa, and Madhubani) with South (Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Nawada, and Gaya) and West Bihar (including Patna, Ara, and Buxar), reducing travel time and easing congestion across existing routes.
Supporting infrastructure includes one additional ROB, two rail underpasses (RUBs), and six vehicle underpasses (VUPs) from Aunta to Hathidah and from Simaria Bindtoli to National Highway 31 near Rajendra Pul station. NH-31 passes over NH-80 near Hathidah Junction, with two more RUBs constructed near Aunta.
A roundabout is under construction on the Simaria side to regulate traffic flow and enhance safety at the junction of the old and new bridges. Although formal inauguration is pending, the bridge is already attracting bikers and local four-wheeler traffic, with many visitors stopping to capture videos and reels on the striking new structure.
