Patna: Bihar’s Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal on Sunday inspected the ongoing construction of the Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane Ganga bridge and directed officials to ensure that the remaining work is completed by the first week of July.
During the review, officials informed the secretary that the project had entered its final phase and was progressing rapidly towards completion.
Pal said the bridge is one of Bihar’s most significant infrastructure projects and is expected to substantially improve connectivity between Patna and North Bihar.
Project Reaches Final Stage
While expressing satisfaction with the quality of work, the secretary cautioned engineers and the construction agency against any complacency during the final phase of execution.
He directed officials to ensure that all remaining work is completed within the stipulated timeline while strictly adhering to technical and safety standards.
The project involves the construction of a 19.76-km six-lane greenfield corridor connecting Kacchi Dargah on National Highway-30 in Patna district with Bidupur on National Highway-103 in Vaishali district.
The corridor includes a 9.76-km bridge across the Ganges and approximately 10 km of approach roads.
According to department officials, physical progress on the project has reached 98.1%, with finishing work currently underway on the bridge structure. Engineers are also carrying out expansion-joint stressing and other technical tasks required before commissioning.
First Phase Already Operational
Officials noted that the first phase of the project, connecting Kacchi Dargah in Patna to Raghopur Diyara in Vaishali over a distance of 4.57 km, has already been inaugurated.
The completed bridge will link Sabalpur in Patna with NH-103 at Bidupur and provide direct connectivity to the Patna-Bakhtiyarpur Bypass on NH-30.
The new route is expected to serve as an alternative crossing over the Ganges and significantly improve regional mobility.
Boost For Connectivity And Economic Growth
Pal said the project would provide seamless connectivity between Patna and several districts of North Bihar, reducing travel times and improving access to essential services.
He noted that the bridge would facilitate the movement of people and goods while supporting economic development in sectors such as agriculture and industry.
The improved road network is also expected to benefit patients travelling to Patna for specialised medical treatment and emergency healthcare services.
Officials believe the project will streamline traffic moving towards Hajipur, Samastipur and other districts in North Bihar while making journeys faster and safer.
Relief For Gandhi Setu Traffic
The six-lane bridge is also expected to reduce traffic pressure on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, which currently handles a large share of road traffic between Patna and North Bihar.
Once operational, the new crossing is expected to provide an additional high-capacity route across the Ganges and improve traffic distribution across the region.
