Another mega bridge connecting North and South Bihar is ready. The completion work on the six-lane cable-stayed bridge is now in its final stages. The Bihar government is set to inaugurate it in the first week of July. Let's take a look at the details of this bridge.
Patna: (ABN) The six-lane cable-stayed bridge - stretching from Kachchi Dargah to Bidupur - connecting North and South Bihar is nearing completion and is set to be operational next month (July). The project, initiated under former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been completed at a cost of approximately Rs 4,988 crore. Once operational, the bridge will provide a direct road link between Kachchi Dargah in Patna and Bidupur in Vaishali. It is also expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu. The total length of the bridge is 19.76 kilometers, comprising a 9.76-kilometer main bridge section and approximately 10 kilometers of approach roads. Completed in nearly nine years, the project is one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Bihar. The Road Construction Department has termed it a modern cable-stayed bridge. Its basic structure is balanced not only by pillars from below but also by strong steel cables anchored from above. This technology enhances the strength and durability of the bridge while enabling the construction of longer spans. Once the bridge is opened, connectivity between North and South Bihar will become much smoother. On the South Bihar side, it will be connected to routes leading to Ara, Buxar, Gaya, Nawada, and Jharkhand, while in North Bihar, it will provide easy access to Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and neighboring districts. The bridge will significantly reduce travel time between Patna and Vaishali.
Notably, the first phase of the Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane bridge project was inaugurated by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In the first phase, a section spanning approximately 4.57 kilometers from Kachchi Dargah (Patna) to Vaishali via Raghupur Diara was opened to traffic. This route connects to the Patna-Bakhtiyarpur Four Lane Highway (NH-30), thus improving road connectivity between Patna and the region. The second phase included construction from Vaishali's Hajipur Mahnar road to Chaksikander. Now, in the third phase, construction work from Raghupur Diara to Hajipur Mahnar road is nearing completion.
Lakhs of population from the Kala Diara area of Raghupur and Bakhtiyarpur are now reaching Patna through this bridge. Earlier, during the rainy season, residents of Raghupur Diara had to travel to Patna by boat. For them, the only means to reach Patna or Hajipur district headquarters was by boats. Boat travel during the monsoon often led to accidents. Now, with the opening of the six-lane bridge, people will not have to rely on boats, and connectivity to the district headquarters will become stronger. The Patna Ring Road and the Amas-Darbhanga Controlled-Access Highway will also pass through this bridge. Consequently, the project will not be limited to local travel but will also strengthen the regional and state-level transportation network.
