The Narendra Modi Cabinet has given the green light to a new railway line project in Bihar, which includes the construction of a massive bridge over the Ganges River in Bhagalpur. This bridge will significantly enhance connectivity between North and South Bihar, making travel smoother and more efficient.
On Friday (09/08/2024), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight projects proposed by the Ministry of Railways, one of which is based in Bihar. The committee has sanctioned ₹2549 crore for the Vikramshila-Kataria railway line, under which the new bridge over the Ganges River in Bhagalpur will be constructed. This will be Bhagalpur’s first railway bridge and the fifth in Bihar.
Currently, Bhagalpur has the Vikramshila Setu, an under-construction parallel bridge, and the Sultanganj-Aguwani bridge, all of which are road bridges. The new railway bridge, approximately 26.23 kilometers long, will not only connect two national highways but also link the Kosi and Seemanchal regions with eastern Bihar, specifically the Anga region, via rail.
This project had been pending for several years. It was included in the budget for the financial year 2016-17, with an initial proposal of around ₹4500 crore. A drone survey for alignment was conducted a year ago. The survey, conducted by RailTel Corporation, found that most of the land required for the project lies within the Ganges River area, indicating that land acquisition would not be a significant hurdle.
Y-Shaped Bridge Design
The proposed new railway bridge over the Ganges River in Bhagalpur will be Y-shaped. The bridge will connect railway lines from both sides. On the northern side, the lines will connect to Kataria and Naugachia, while on the southern side, the lines will link Vikramshila and Shivnarayanpur stations near Bateshwar Sthan. The new railway line will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility between these regions. The main bridge will span 2.5 kilometers, strengthening connectivity between North and South Bihar.
This bridge will also enhance connectivity between Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, and will link various districts in the northeastern states. Additionally, it will improve rail connections from Bhagalpur to cities like Godda, Dumka, Deoghar, and Ranchi, making travel easier across the Kosi region. The bridge will serve as an additional rail corridor for Northern and Eastern India, earning the name "Mega Rail Corridor."
