Bhagalpur: Ferry services between Bhagalpur and Naugachhia began on Thursday after the Vikramshila Setu was completely closed to traffic for permanent repair work.
Large vessels are being operated from the BIADA Ghat in the Barari industrial area on the Bhagalpur side. The first vessel, Swami Paramhans, departed at 6:28 am and reached Jahnavi Chowk Ghat in Naugachhia after around 2 hours and 7 minutes.
The administration had expected the Ganga crossing to take around 45 to 60 minutes.
Passengers Face Waterlogging After Reaching Naugachhia
The problems did not end after passengers got off the vessel.
Several stretches of the connecting road between Jahnavi Chowk Ghat and the main road were waterlogged and muddy.
Passengers carrying luggage had to walk through the waterlogged sections. Some motorcycles also became stuck in the mud and had to be pushed out.
A teacher travelling towards Gopalpur said the waterlogged road made it difficult to move after getting off the vessel. Some passengers were reportedly forced to carry their footwear while walking through the water.
Crowding At Single Ticket Counter
As passenger numbers increased, crowding was also reported at the ticket counter.
Passenger Sajan Kumar said having only one ticket counter was causing inconvenience and suggested increasing the number of counters.
Passengers also sought ferry services at regular intervals to reduce waiting time.
However, not all passengers reported major problems with the ferry arrangement.
Passenger Sunil Kumar Jha said the journey by vessel took around 45 minutes to an hour, which was comparable to the time previously spent travelling by road when congestion affected the bridge route.
He said the facilities on the vessel appeared adequate, although reducing the travel time further would be helpful.
Ferries To Operate During Daylight
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey said passenger safety was being given priority during the ferry operations.
Magistrates and Aapda Mitra personnel have been deployed on the vessels to respond to emergencies.
The administration plans to operate the vessels only until sunset. The last vessel is expected to leave at around 4:30 pm to 4:45 pm, allowing it to reach its destination before darkness.
The district administration has also advised people to use only authorised vessels equipped with prescribed safety measures and avoid travelling in small or illegal boats because of the rising Ganga water level.
Cargo Movement Suspended For Three Days
Cargo vessel movement from Babupur Ghat has been suspended for three days due to the rising water level.
The district administration said the Ganga level had increased by more than one foot over two days, raising concerns about cargo movement towards Naugachhia.
The situation will be reviewed after three days before a decision is taken on resuming cargo operations.
Bailey Bridge Removal Begins
At the same time, a major repair operation has begun on the Vikramshila Setu.
With vehicular movement completely stopped, work has started to remove the Bailey Bridge installed across four spans of the damaged section.
A team of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Sikkim has reached Bhagalpur for the operation. Workers are using heavy cranes to dismantle different sections of the Bailey Bridge and remove them safely.
Traffic police officials are also monitoring the alternative transport arrangements during the repair work.
Bailey Bridge Had Allowed Limited Traffic
The Bailey Bridge was constructed across four spans of the damaged portion of Vikramshila Setu.
Small vehicles began using the Bailey Bridge on June 7, 2026, allowing limited traffic to continue after the main bridge was damaged.
The bridge has now been closed completely to facilitate permanent repairs.
After the Bailey Bridge is removed, a truss bridge will be constructed across the same four spans. This includes a span that was completely damaged and requires a permanent structural solution.
Bridge Slab Fell Into Ganga On May 3
The Vikramshila Setu was damaged after a slab fell into the Ganga on the night of May 3.
Traffic movement on the bridge was subsequently affected. The Bailey Bridge was later installed to allow small vehicles to cross the damaged section.
With the permanent repair process now underway, the administration has introduced the ferry service as an alternative connection between Bhagalpur and Naugachhia.
The ferry service is expected to remain an important alternative mode of transport while repair and reconstruction work on the Vikramshila Setu continues.
