Bhagalpur witnessed a significant milestone on Monday as large numbers of vehicles crossed the newly constructed Bailey bridge, a day after it was opened to traffic. This development has brought much-needed relief to commuters and businesses affected by the partial collapse of the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur. The temporary bridge has successfully restored connectivity between south Bihar and the Kosi-Seemanchal region after 35 days of disruption.
Inauguration and Traffic Regulation
Road construction minister Kumar Shailendra inaugurated the Bailey bridge on Sunday, opening it to two-wheelers, four-wheelers, light motor vehicles, and pickup vans. Traffic movement has resumed in a regulated manner under strict administrative supervision, ensuring safety and order.
Background of the Collapse
More than 33 metres of the reinforced cement concrete structure of the bridge across the Ganga, near pillar number 33 between the P2 and P3 spans, collapsed during the night of May 3-4. This incident severely affected the movement of people and goods. Following the collapse, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was entrusted with constructing four sections of Bailey bridge to restore limited traffic.
Recognition of Efforts
The minister felicitated officials from the road construction department, BRO superintending engineer Vipin Kumar Chand and his team, Bhagalpur district magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary, SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav, sadar SDO Vikash Kumar, and others for their role in restoring connectivity under challenging weather conditions. Speaking on the occasion, Kumar highlighted the excellent cooperation provided by the BRO in completing the project despite adverse weather and severe thunderstorms. He stated that the temporary bridge would bring significant relief to residents on both sides of the Ganga.
BRO's Achievement
Chief of project, BRO, Brigadier Amit Sakhre, said the task was assigned by the defence ministry and completed within a record timeframe. He expressed pride in completing the construction of the Bailey bridge in record time with the efforts of BRO engineers, technical experts, and workers.
Operational Details
The district magistrate explained that traffic movement and the entire operation will follow a one-way route under regulated conditions. People may have to wait for a short while, up to a maximum of 10-15 minutes, for crossing the bridge. He assured that the safety of the Bailey bridge is being maintained and monitored, with daily maintenance carried out to ensure commuter safety.
Timeline of Construction
The BRO began work on May 16 and completed the bridge on June 6, following intervention by chief minister Samrat Choudhary and support from defence minister Rajnath Singh. This rapid construction has been crucial in restoring normalcy to the region.
