Bhagalpur: New bridge to boost economy

BHAGALPUR: The businessmen and residents of Bhagalpur area were elated after PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation for a four-lane bridge parallel to Vikramshila Setu over river Ganga through videoconferencing on Monday. The bridge is targeted to be constructed by 2024 with the cost of Rs 1,116.72 crore.
They believe the new bridge, once completed, would boost growth and industrial development in the region.
“Vikramshila Setu was opened on July 23, 2001. Traffic snarls are common as there is huge traffic on the two-lane bridge. The new bridge will make smooth passage for raw materials like stone chips, sand, coal, fly ash from NTPC and agriculture products,” Eastern Bihar Industries Association (EBIA) general secretary Alok Agarwal said.
It would also provide better connectivity between north, east and south Bihar districts and entrepreneurs would be attracted by smooth transport passage, he said.
“Investments of Rs1,116.72 crore in the bridge will boost local economy,” said Eastern Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries (EBCCI) vice-president Sanjiv Sharma.
The general secretary of Bhagalpur chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr Birendra Kumar Badal, said: “The new bridge will save many patients who otherwise get stuck up in long traffic snarls on Vikramshila Setu.”
The executive engineer of NH wing of road construction department, M K Pandey, said the process for acquiring nearly 19.1 hectare land has been expedited. The total land requirement for the project is 21.3 hectares. “Whereas 2.2 hectares of the requisite land is available with the state government, funds for acquisition of remaining has also been sanctioned,” he said.
The foundation for the 4.367km-long bridge was laid near the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) for Women at Barari, which is almost 50 metres away from the Vikramshila Setu.
BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar, SSP Ashish Bharti besides officials from RCD (NH wing) were present on the site on the occasion.
CM Nitish Kumar had demanded a bridge parallel to Vikramshila Setu during his meeting with Union road, transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari and PM Modi in January, 2018.