Patna: Bihar’s chief minister has ordered an urgent technical assessment and immediate traffic diversions after damage was reported to a span of the Vikramshila Bridge over the Ganga, a key arterial link between Bhagalpur and Naugachhia.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Patna, the chief minister directed officials to secure alternative transport arrangements for commuters and ensure that restoration work is carried out “expeditiously” once expert findings are received. He also called for strict enforcement of maintenance standards across all major bridges in the state, warning that negligence would not be tolerated.
The meeting was convened at 5 Deshratna Marg following reports that a section of the bridge was damaged late on May 3. Officials said the incident was first reported around midnight, prompting swift action from district authorities, police and traffic personnel. No casualties or property loss were reported.
A technical investigation team has been dispatched to Bhagalpur, comprising officials from the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited and experts from IIT Patna and NIT Patna, and headed by the state’s engineer-in-chief (works management). The team is expected to submit a detailed report on the cause of the damage.
In the interim, the state government announced a free steamer service for pedestrians and two-wheelers across the Ganga to reduce disruption. Authorities have also been instructed to streamline vehicular movement on the alternative Munger–Bhagalpur route via the Shri Krishna Setu and National Highway 33.
The chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, praised the district administration for its rapid response, saying it had helped prevent any loss of life. “I have instructed officials to maintain constant vigilance and ensure that the administration remains fully active so that the public does not face inconvenience,” he said during the review.
As part of immediate administrative action, the executive engineer of the National Highway division in Bhagalpur has been suspended on grounds of alleged negligence in maintenance duties.
The State Disaster Response Force has also been deployed at the site to assist in managing the situation and regulating movement around the affected area.
Officials said the damaged bridge is a critical transport corridor connecting northern Bihar with Bhagalpur, and its partial shutdown is expected to have a significant impact on regional traffic flow. To mitigate this, the government has prioritised completion of a parallel four-lane bridge over the Ganga, which is currently under construction.
The chief minister directed engineers to accelerate work on the project and ensure that structural audits of all major bridges across the state are conducted strictly in line with standard operating procedures. He reiterated that all bridges must be properly maintained and that accountability would be enforced at every level.
“Any negligence in upkeep will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that swift corrective action must follow any lapses identified during inspections.
The meeting also reviewed safety arrangements on both sides of the river crossing, including restrictions on vehicular entry near vulnerable points and adherence to safety protocols for boat-based transport. Officials were instructed to ensure uninterrupted power supply and robust crowd and traffic management systems.
Bhagalpur district magistrate Naval Kishore Chaudhary briefed the meeting via video conference on the ground situation, while senior state officials, including the deputy chief ministers and top bureaucrats, attended in person.
Authorities said further decisions on restoration timelines and long-term structural reinforcement would be taken once the expert committee submits its findings.
