By Kavita Sharma
Photo credit : The Suncity News
Patna, April 20, 2026: Bihar’s Chief Secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing construction of the Greenfield Mega Bridge over the Ganges River, connecting Bakhtiyarpur (NH- 31) to Tajpur (NH-28)—a project of significant strategic importance for the state.
During the review, it was noted that the project still involves an expenditure of Rs 1,822.23 crore.
Emphasizing the urgency of timely completion, the Chief Secretary directed officials to accelerate the pace of work to meet the stipulated targets.
As per the progress report presented in the meeting, work has largely remained in line with the targets set for March and April 2026.
Against a target of casting 40 segments in March, 39 segments were completed. Similarly, for the third week of April, 26 segments were cast against a target of 29.
In addition, erection work using the Launching Girder (LG) is also underway.
The executing agency has proposed maintaining a casting rate of 40 segments per month for the remaining 438 segments.
Based on this plan, erection work up to Pier P-29 is expected to be completed by May 2027.
Pratyaya Amrit’s key directives to officials:
Taking serious note of the project’s importance, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit issued several key directives.
He instructed officials to immediately increase the number of Casting Yard (CFT) sets to ensure the timely completion of 12 spans between P-33 and A2. He further stressed that the segment casting rate must be consistently maintained—excluding the monsoon period—to prevent any delays.
The Chief Secretary also directed that the agency’s progress and targets be closely monitored on a weekly basis, and that any technical challenges be addressed without delay.
Adopting a firm stance, he asserted that this bridge is a vital link between North and South Bihar, and therefore, on the construction quality or the stipulated deadline of May 2027.
Sultan Ganj—Aguwani Ghat Bridge project:
Pratyaya Amrit also conducted a detailed review of the ongoing construction of the 6-lane bridge and its approach roads over the Ganga River, connecting Sultanganj in Bhagalpur to Aguwani Ghat in Khagaria.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary expressed satisfaction with the current pace of construction but issued firm directions to ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated deadline of May 2026. It was noted that while the pace of approach road construction has improved, additional resources will be required to meet the stipulated timeline.
Officials informed that the design and drawing approval for the Pasraha Railway Over Bridge (ROB) was received from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on April 10, 2026.
Taking a serious view of the situation, the Chief Secretary directed contractors to immediately increase machinery deployment and manpower to achieve the set targets.
Pratyaya Amrit also instructed that the pending ‘Safety Audit’ and Integrity Test’ report for EDB-3 (P13 to P16) be submitted without further delay.
Regarding the Pasraha Interchange, officials were asked to coordinate closely with the Begusarai PIU to expedite the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process for the revised proposal.
The Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit further emphasized maintaining continuous coordination with the Railway and local authorities to prevent administrative bottlenecks from affecting project progress.
Focus on speed with safety:
Expressing strong displeasure over delays in submitting safety-related reports, he ordered strict compliance and immediate submission. He reiterated that while the pace of construction must be accelerated, there will be absolutely no compromise on structural safety and quality standards.
Senior officials from the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited, along with project engineers and representatives of the contracting agency, were present during the review meeting.
These two mega bridge projects are critical to Bihar’s infrastructure transformation—enhancing connectivity, boosting economic activity, and reducing travel time across regions. The administration’s push for speed, accountability, and quality reflects the urgency attached to completing these long-awaited projects within deadlines.
EOM.
