Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has said that vehicular traffic on the Vikramshila Setu, a vital link connecting Bhagalpur with 16 districts of the Seemanchal and Kosi regions, will resume by 30 November.
Speaking to the media on Sunday after reviewing the restoration and repair work on the bridge over the Ganga River, Choudhary said the reconstruction of the damaged section was progressing rapidly. He also announced that the bridge would undergo a fresh technical assessment by the construction agency to facilitate improvements to its superstructure.
The Chief Minister’s visit marked his first trip to Bhagalpur after assuming office. During the visit, he inspected the condition of the bridge and received updates from officials on the progress of the restoration work.
A section of the Vikramshila Setu collapsed into the Ganga River shortly after midnight on 3 May when a bridge slab near Pillar No. 133 gave way. However, due to the alertness of the police and district administration, no casualties or major accidents were reported.
The 4.7-km-long bridge, inaugurated in 2001, serves as a crucial transport link between Bhagalpur and the Seemanchal and Kosi regions. Following the collapse, commuters faced significant inconvenience, prompting the administration to recommend the Munger Bridge as an alternative route.
Experts have attributed the incident to inadequate maintenance and the weakening of the bridge’s foundation due to the strong currents of the Ganga. The collapse also triggered concerns over the functioning of the National Highways (NH) Department and the maintenance of critical infrastructure in the state.