Patna: Commuters travelling between Patna and Hajipur may soon be spared the hours-long traffic jams that have long plagued the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, as a new four-lane bridge takes shape alongside the ageing structure.
The Bihar road construction department is building the new bridge parallel to the historic Mahatma Gandhi Setu, a key artery connecting north and south Bihar. Officials say around 60% of the construction work has been completed and the bridge is expected to be opened to the public by December 2026.
The decision to construct a parallel bridge was taken in 2021, amid mounting traffic pressure on the existing setu, which has been in service for decades. The main bridge, stretching about 5.5 km, is being built by SP Singla Construction.
The project is being funded by the central government at an estimated cost of Rs 2,926.42 crore. Once operational, the new bridge is expected to provide much-needed relief to commuters and freight traffic that currently choke the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, even after repeated repairs and strengthening of its superstructure.
Officials said the bridge would significantly improve connectivity between districts of south Bihar such as Gaya, Aurangabad and Nalanda, and north Bihar districts including Chhapra, Vaishali and Darbhanga. With improved approach roads extending the project’s total connectivity to around 14.5 km, the bridge is expected to become a vital link in the state’s transport network.
Transport planners believe the new crossing will sharply cut travel time on what is often described as Bihar’s lifeline, while also reducing pollution and fuel wastage caused by slow-moving traffic on the existing bridge.
Once completed, the parallel four-lane bridge is expected to offer a long-term solution to congestion on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, transforming daily travel for thousands of commuters and strengthening economic links across the Ganga.
