Patna: Construction of one of Bihar’s most significant infrastructure projects — a 5.5km bridge over the Ganga between Bakhtiyarpur and Tajpur — is expected to be completed by June 2027, officials have said. The bridge aims to improve connectivity between north and south Bihar while easing mounting traffic pressure on Patna’s Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Rajendra Setu.
The project, being implemented by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL), includes a bridge-cum-approach road linking NH-31 at Karjan, Bakhtiyarpur, with NH-28 at Tajpur in Samastipur district.
According to BSRDCL officials, construction of the 16.2km stretch from Chak Lalshahi to the Tajpur section in Samastipur has already been completed. Work on the remaining portions of the bridge and associated road infrastructure is progressing, with vehicular movement expected to begin by June 2027.
The project received a second administrative approval of Rs 3,923 crore. In addition to the main 5.5km bridge, plans include the construction of 45.74km of road on both sides — 41.25km towards Tajpur in Samastipur and 4.50km towards Bakhtiyarpur in Patna district.
Officials said the new link is intended to facilitate smoother travel between southern and northern districts of the state and reduce congestion on existing Ganga bridges, particularly the Mahatma Gandhi Setu.
The bridge is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and is expected to benefit several districts across the state. These include Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Saharsa and Purnia in north Bihar, as well as Patna, Gaya, Aurangabad, Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Jehanabad, Arwal and Nalanda in the south.
The project is also expected to improve connectivity with neighbouring states such as Jharkhand and West Bengal, and provide more direct access to Nepal from districts in south Bihar.
Officials said the improved connectivity could boost trade and logistics, while opening new avenues for crop export and import, benefiting millions of farmers in the region.
