Bihar: 4 years on, Khagaria bridge still incomplete

KHAGARIA: Inordinate delay in completion of a reinforcement cement concrete (RCC) bridge over the Bagmati river near Nawada Ghat in Khagaria district has caused resentment among the people of a number of remote villages.
The foundation for the bridge was laid by CM Nitish Kumar through remote control from Patna on June 11, 2019. The 507-metre-long bridge was to be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 56 crore within two-and-a-half-year.It is, however, yet to be completed even though four years have passed since its foundation was laid by the CM.
The bridge with a provision of 21 pillars and an approach road is being constructed by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL). BRPNNL’s junior engineer (JE) Sunil Kumar said construction of pillars gets adversely affected due to the rising trend of the Bagmati river, especially in the monsoon season.
Rajeev Kumara, a resident of Rohiyar Bangaliya village, said of the 21 pillars, only two were under construction.
Anil Kumar Singh, a member of Mohanpur panchayat samiti, said looking at the pace at which the bridge is being constructed, it is unlikely to be completed in the next three years.
Once the bridge is constructed, the residents of a number of panchayats, including Rohiyar, Bichha and Sarsawa in Khagaria and neighbouring panchayats of Saharsa district will no more have to depend on risky journey by boat.
Congress MLA from Khagaria assembly constituency has urged the officials concerned to ensure early completion of the bridge.
Nitish Patel, president of the district unit of National Students’ Union of India, has threatened to launch an agitation if the officials concerned continued to ignore the project.