Patna: Preparations are in their final stages for the inauguration of Bihar’s Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane bridge, one of the state’s largest road infrastructure projects. Although no official programme has been announced, administrative officials and the construction agency are preparing for a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Raghopur in the last week of July.
According to local officials, work is under way to prepare the inauguration venue near Pillar No. 26 in Jamalpur village under Rustampur Panchayat in Vaishali district’s Raghopur block. The project is expected to provide a direct road connection between Patna and North Bihar while reducing congestion on existing crossings over the Ganges.
What Preparations Are Under Way?
More than 40 acres of land near the proposed venue are being cleared to accommodate the event. A main marquee and separate seating arrangements for visitors are being erected, while the approach road connecting the bridge to the venue is being repaired.
Officials are also preparing parking areas and other infrastructure required for the event. Workers have been engaged around the clock to complete the remaining arrangements.
Despite these preparations, neither the district administration nor the police has formally confirmed the Prime Minister’s visit.
What Officials Say About the Project
Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal recently reviewed progress at the project site. According to the department, he inspected the main bridge, approach roads and finishing works before directing engineers to complete the remaining tasks within the scheduled timeline while maintaining quality standards.
The department said that 99.6 per cent of the project’s physical work has been completed. Final activities, including road markings, safety installations and other finishing works, are now under way.
Officials said the bridge is expected to improve connectivity between Patna and North Bihar once it opens to traffic.
Why the Bridge Matters ?
The Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur bridge has been designed to provide an alternative crossing over the Ganges for vehicles travelling between Patna and districts such as Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani.
At present, most traffic depends on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu or the JP Setu, both of which frequently experience congestion. The new bridge is expected to reduce travel time and offer an additional route for passenger and commercial vehicles.
According to the Road Construction Department, the improved connectivity could also support trade, industrial activity and economic development across the region.
Structural Work Completed Earlier This Year
The bridge’s structural construction was completed in April 2026 when engineers installed the final bridge segment on Pier No. 61.
According to project officials, the final segment was placed after a ceremonial event attended by company representatives. With the installation complete, the project’s structural phase concluded, leaving only finishing and safety-related work.
A Rs 4,988.4 Crore Infrastructure Project
The Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur project has been built at a cost of Rs 4,988.4 crore through a joint venture between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering & Construction. The bridge design was also prepared by the Korean firm.
The project includes:
Total length: 22.76 km
Bridge over the Ganges: 9.76 km
Approach roads: 13 km
Total width: 32 metres
Design speed: 100 km/h
Total piers: 67
According to the Bihar government, financing includes a loan of around Rs 3,000 crore from the Asian Development Bank, with the remaining cost borne by the state government.
Extra-Dosed Cable Technology
One of the bridge’s notable engineering features is its extra-dosed cable-stayed design, a technology used on relatively few bridges in India.
Unlike conventional cable-stayed bridges, the system distributes structural loads through cables connected beneath the bridge deck, helping improve strength and durability while allowing longer spans.
Project Timeline
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for the project on January 31, 2016.
The first operational phase, a 4.57-km stretch linking NH-31 to Raghopur, was inaugurated on July 23, 2024, improving access between Raghopur and Patna. Since then, work has continued on the remaining sections of the bridge and its approach roads.
