Buxar: Bihar is preparing for a major upgrade in road connectivity as construction of the third Ganga bridge in Buxar continues at a fast pace. The project is being seen as an important step for improving travel and trade in the region. On Monday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary carried out an aerial inspection of the under-construction bridge. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress and asked officials to speed up the remaining work.
The new bridge is expected to make travel to Varanasi and Lucknow much easier by directly connecting the Buxar–Patna Highway (NH-922) to the Purvanchal Expressway. Officials say this link will play a key role in reducing the heavy traffic load on the two existing Ganga bridges, which often witness long queues and frequent congestion. Local residents and shopkeepers in Buxar have been worried about increasing traffic on market roads, and many hope the new bridge will finally ease the pressure.
During his visit, the Chief Minister also inspected industrial units in the Nawanagar Industrial Area, including Varun Beverages, Bharat Plus Ethanol and SLMG Beverages. He said the new bridge would help boost economic activity by supporting faster movement of goods along the Delhi–Varanasi–Patna corridor. Several residents, such as Santosh Kumar Thakur, believe the project will strengthen development across eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar, helping bring new jobs and business opportunities.
The bridge is being built as a three-lane structure stretching 3.2 kilometres. It will rest on 40 strong pillars, including eight placed in the main stream of the Ganga and 32 on both banks. The construction company, ASC Infratech, has completed deep drilling of up to 170 feet for soil testing, and the main work began after receiving the central geotechnical clearance. An elevated road of two kilometres and a rotary will link the main bridge to nearby highways, including the Ballia–Ghazipur Greenfield Highway via an almost-completed four-lane spur.
This project was first announced in the 2024 Union Budget but faced delays when its detailed project report and tender were cancelled twice due to technical problems. On the third attempt, the work order was finalised on 9 January 2025. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is managing the work under the hybrid annuity model. The bridge, estimated to cost around Rs 368 crore, is planned to be completed in 910 days and is expected to reshape connectivity and economic growth in the region for years to come.
