Patna: The long-awaited Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur Six-Lane Bridge, a major infrastructure project spanning the Ganga in Bihar, has entered its final phase of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 4,988.4 crore, the six-lane bridge is designed to significantly improve connectivity between North and South Bihar, linking key regions including Patna, Raghopur and Bidupur. Officials say trial traffic movement from the Bidupur side could begin as early as the last week of June once finishing work is completed.
The project, executed by a joint venture of Larsen & Toubro and South Korea’s Daewoo, recently marked a key milestone with the installation of the final segment at Pier 61. Construction teams are now focusing on finishing works at speed ahead of commissioning.
Once operational, the bridge is expected to ease heavy congestion on existing crossings such as the Gandhi Setu and the JP Setu, which currently bear significant vehicular load across the Ganges.
Spanning a total length of 22.76 km—comprising a 9.76 km main bridge and 13 km of approach roads—the structure rests on 67 piers and has been designed using an extra-dosed cable-stayed system intended to enhance durability and load capacity. Authorities say it will support vehicular speeds of up to 100 km/h.
The project’s financing includes around Rs 3,000 crore from the Asian Development Bank, with the Bihar government contributing approximately Rs 2,000 crore. The foundation stone was laid in January 2016, and a 4.57 km first phase connecting NH-31 to Raghopur was inaugurated in July 2024, already improving access in the region.
Officials say the bridge will ultimately strengthen regional connectivity, making travel to districts such as Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani significantly faster and reducing pressure on Patna’s existing transport corridors.
