Patna: Two major infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Patna and North Bihar are making steady progress, with officials confirming key timelines for their completion.
A new four-lane bridge and approach road, currently under construction parallel to the ageing Mahatma Gandhi Setu, is expected to be completed by December 2026, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The 14.5km-long structure will run from Zero Mile in Patna to BSNL Golambar in Hajipur, and is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,794 crore.
Ashutosh Kumar, Additional Director General of MoRTH, visited the construction sites on Friday along with regional officers, inspecting progress from Zero Mile to Ramashish Chowk and from Digha to Bakarpur. He urged both ministry officials and contractors to stick to deadlines, stressing that the bridges would play a crucial role in improving daily commutes for residents across Bihar.
Once completed, traffic flow across the Gandhi Setu will be restructured: vehicles travelling from Hajipur to Patna will continue to use the existing bridge, while those heading from Patna to Hajipur will use the newly built structure. Officials hope this separation will help alleviate the frequent traffic jams that have plagued the corridor for years.
Meanwhile, a second major project – a six-lane bridge being built across the Ganga parallel to JP Setu – is on track for completion by 2028. The bridge, stretching from Digha to Bakarpur (Sonpur), will span 4.556km and include a 2.369km approach road. It is being constructed using extra-dosed cable technology, with 125-metre spans between its piers. The project is valued at Rs 2,221 crore.
According to officials, the bridge is expected to significantly improve access to North Bihar and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, boosting trade and easing the movement of goods and people across the region.
