Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inaugurated the state’s first Laxman Jhula, a 320-metre-long suspension bridge over the Punpun river in Patna, completing a project that took six years and cost nearly Rs 83 crore.
The bridge, whose foundation stone was laid by Kumar in March 2019, was originally estimated at Rs 46.77 crore, but costs rose to Rs 82.99 crore during construction. The structure features 18 suspension cables, an 11.5-metre-wide deck, a 120-metre-long suspension span, a 200-metre via duct, and 135 metres of connecting pathways. The pylons stand 30.48 metres tall, and the approach roads measure 115 metres on each side.
Officials have highlighted the bridge’s importance for the annual Pitru Paksha Tarpan fair, held on the banks of the Punpun river every September. Devotees from across India and abroad gather to offer ritual prayers and offerings to their ancestors, and the new bridge is expected to ease access significantly. The District Magistrate of Patna had inspected the bridge in June and instructed that it be completed in time for this year’s fair.
