In a significant boost to Bihar's infrastructure, the massive Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur road bridge spanning the Ganga River is progressing swiftly and is slated to be ready for public use by May 2026. The announcement came during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit.
Strategic Link and Construction Progress
The mega bridge, being constructed at a cost of Rs 1,822 crore, will serve as a vital link between the southern and northern parts of the state. On the southern bank, it will connect to National Highway-31 at Karjan near Bakhtiyarpur. On the northern side in Samastipur district, it will join National Highway-28 at Tajpur.
Chief Secretary Amrit revealed that approximately 65% of the construction work has already been finished. He directed officials and the executing agency to ensure all remaining work is completed to meet the May 2026 deadline. He also emphasized the need to promptly remove any obstacles hindering the construction of two associated road overbridges.
Review of Key Irrigation Projects
The review meeting also assessed the progress of two major projects under the Water Resources Department. A key focus was the centrally aided North Koel reservoir irrigation project, valued at Rs 1,367 crore.
Land acquisition for the project's right main canal in Aurangabad and Gaya districts has gained momentum. In Aurangabad, 36.306 hectares have been acquired against a target of 41.251 hectares. In Gaya, 80.045 hectares have been secured out of the required 96.749 hectares.
Significant groundwork is already complete, with 1,170 electric poles and 18 transformers relocated in the canal area. The tender process is advancing, with technical evaluation underway for Package-7 and tenders for canal distributaries in several divisions scheduled to open on December 24. Once operational, the project will supply irrigation water to about 2,100 hectares of land via pumps at 12 points along the canal.
Focus on Mandai Weir Project
Regarding the Mandai weir and canal network project, the Chief Secretary instructed officials to ensure smooth land acquisition for both the right and left canals. He stressed that landowners must receive proper compensation as per their respective mauja (revenue village) records. To oversee the project, six junior engineers and four assistant engineers have already been appointed.
The review meeting saw participation from senior officials of the road construction, water resources, planning and development, and finance departments via videoconferencing. The progress on these projects highlights the state government's push to enhance both connectivity and agricultural infrastructure in Bihar.
