Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate one lane of the much-anticipated Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur six-lane bridge on June 23, opening a vital new connection between Patna and Raghopur Diara. The ceremony will also be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin.
Constructed by the L&T–Daewoo joint venture, the Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India. The 22.76 km structure, including its approach roads, has been under construction since January 16, 2017. Of this, the main bridge spans 9.76 km, supported by 67 pillars.
Built at a total cost of Rs 4,988.40 crore, the project includes Rs 696.60 crore spent on land acquisition and Rs 4,291.80 crore on the bridge itself. Stretching from Sabalpur on the Patna–Bakhtiyarpur four-lane corridor to Chaksikander in Vaishali near Ghazipur Chowk on NH-103, the six-lane bridge is 32 metres wide and is expected to significantly ease travel between northern and southern Bihar.
The bridge’s completion is expected to transform the Raghopur Diara region. Once largely dependent on boats for connectivity, residents will now gain easier access to health services, education, and economic infrastructure. Officials hope that the bridge will act as a catalyst for development, with new hospitals, banks, industries, and colleges likely to be established in the area.
