Patna: The Bihar government has signalled fresh momentum for the development of Raghopur Diara, an area long isolated by the shifting waters of the Ganga, following the inauguration of the Kacchi Dargah-Raghopur bridge that now connects the region to the state capital.
Acting on the directive of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state has established a high-level committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive development plan for both banks of the newly constructed Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur corridor. Officials say the initiative reflects the government’s resolve to integrate Raghopur Diara into Bihar’s mainstream economic and urban growth.
The committee, chaired by Shirshat Kapil Ashok, Managing Director of Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd. and Special Secretary in the Road Construction Department, also includes senior officials from the Water Resources Department, Urban Development and Housing Department, and Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
श्री शीर्षत कपिल अशोक, प्रबंध निदेशक, बिहार स्टेट रोड डेवलपमेंट काॅरपोरेशन लि० -सह- विशेष सचिव, पथ निर्माण विभाग के नेतृत्व में राजस्व भूमि सुधार विभाग के पदाधिकारी श्री अजीव वत्स राज, नगर विकास एवं आवास विभाग के अपर सचिव, श्री राजीव कुमार श्रीवास्तव, बिहार स्टेट रोड डेवलपमेंट… pic.twitter.com/lRWMTHPDm9
— RoadConst Dept Bihar (@RCD_Bihar) June 30, 2025
“The Chief Minister has emphasised that connectivity alone is not enough — development must follow,” said an official familiar with the committee’s brief. “We are now looking at urban planning, infrastructure, and services for Raghopur Diara to ensure this area benefits from sustainable and planned growth.”
As part of its field study, the committee, led by Shirshat Kapil Ashok, visited Raghopur on Monday. Accompanied by Rajeev Vats Raj, Additional Secretary in the Urban Development and Housing Department; Rajiv Kumar Srivastava, Chief General Manager of Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd.; and other officials, the team inspected sites stretching from the northern bank of the Ganga to Chak Sikandar.
The officials assessed terrain conditions and potential areas for infrastructure and urban development, aiming to feed insights into the forthcoming action plan. The draft proposal is expected to be submitted to the Urban Development and Housing Department in the coming weeks.
Until recently, residents of Raghopur Diara relied on boats to cross the Ganga, leaving them cut off during monsoons and limiting access to essential services. The new bridge — part of the Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane expressway — is being hailed as a potential game-changer for the region, opening pathways to economic opportunities and social integration.
“The bridge has transformed connectivity,” said a local resident. “Now, we hope development will follow.”
