Patna: Road Construction Minister, Nitin Nabin, on Monday inspected the ongoing construction of a six-lane greenfield bridge across the Ganga River, connecting Kachchi Dargah to Bidupr. The bridge, which includes an extra-dosed cable-stayed section, spans 9.76 km with an additional 10 km of approach roads. The project, valued at Rs 4,988 crore, is a key infrastructure initiative under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s vision to enhance regional connectivity.
The minister reviewed the stretch from Patna to Raghopur, inspecting work along the alignment from NH-30 to Bidupur. Nabin travelled as far as Raghopur Diara, a region historically isolated due to its location within the Ganga’s meandering channels. For the first time, this area will gain direct bridge connectivity to Patna, and further access to Vaishali district.
Nabin called the project a significant milestone in the state government’s mission to connect every block, noting that Raghopur’s isolation during the monsoon season had long been a barrier to access. “This bridge will be pivotal for the comprehensive development of Raghopur Diara,” he said, emphasising improvements in education, healthcare, agriculture, and employment that will follow.
During the inspection, Nabin directed contractors to accelerate work by deploying additional manpower and machinery to ensure timely completion. He noted that on the bridge’s northern end, construction is progressing rapidly as part of the Tajpur–Bakhtiyarpur project, which will connect the structure to Musri Gharari via Chaksikandar and Chaklal Shahi.
However, engineers reported challenges in launching segments over three spans on the Raghopur–Vidupur side due to reduced water levels in the Ganga’s northern channel, affecting barge movement. Nabin visited the affected site and was briefed on dredging operations being carried out by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) using high-powered equipment. He confirmed that, following his coordination with IWAI, necessary steps were underway to ensure on-schedule completion.
The minister set a target date of June 15 for completing the Patna–Raghopur section. During interactions with local residents, a request was raised for the construction of a 4 km stretch from the Raghopur ramp via Himmatpur to the Pansaria (Lohapul) bridge in the Diara region. Nabin directed officials to expedite the approval process for widening and strengthening this road, assuring the public that the plan would be cleared soon, further enhancing the region’s infrastructure.
The inspection was attended by senior officials, including Bihar State Road Development Corporation Managing Director Shirshat Kapil Ashok, Chief General Manager Bablu Kumar, Project General Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh, and Deputy General Manager Shankar Dayal, along with project engineers and representatives from the contracting agency.
