Samastipur: Samastipur is preparing to welcome a major infrastructure development with the construction of a new bridge over the Burhi Gandak river between Hakimabad and Nagarbasti. The much-awaited bridge is expected to be completed by the end of this year and opened to the public soon after. Construction work is progressing quickly, with all pillars already in place and work on the superstructure currently underway. Officials involved in the project say the aim is to finish the bridge within the set deadline so that people can start using it as early as possible.
The bridge is being built by the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited and has seen changes since it was first planned. Initially designed as a nine-pier bridge, two additional piers were added later, increasing its total length to about 400 metres from the earlier 336 metres. The revised design has raised the cost of the project to around Rs 47 crore. Engineers say the expansion was necessary to ensure better strength and smoother movement of traffic in the long run.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to bring significant relief to residents of Hakimabad, Nagarbasti and nearby areas. At present, people travelling towards Darbhanga have to take longer routes, which wastes both time and fuel. The new bridge will offer a direct connection, reducing travel distance and easing traffic pressure within Samastipur city. More than five dozen villages will benefit from improved connectivity, and nearly two lakh people in the Warisnagar and Jitwarpur blocks are expected to see a direct improvement in their daily travel.
Farmers are also likely to benefit greatly from the new bridge. Those coming from areas such as Ujiarpur and Angarghat currently have to pass through crowded city roads to reach the vegetable market at Mathurapur Ghat. After the bridge opens, they will be able to reach the market directly, avoiding traffic congestion and saving valuable time. In addition, travellers moving from Begusarai to Darbhanga will be able to bypass the city and take a shorter route via Jitwarpur, Ilmasnagar and Mannipur, reducing their journey by about 15 kilometres.
According to officials, construction is moving steadily and is close to completion. Even the two pillars that were added later are now nearing the final stage of work. “The construction of the bridge’s superstructure is going on at a fast pace,” said Bhanu Singh, an engineer with the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation. “If everything goes according to plan, the bridge will be completed by the end of the year.” For many in Samastipur, the bridge represents long-awaited relief and a step towards better connectivity and economic growth.
