Complete Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge by May 2027: Chief secretary

Khagaria: Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Saturday reviewed the progress of construction of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge and asked the officials concerned to complete the long-pending project across the Ganga in Khagaria district by the end of May 2027.The construction of the bridge near Aguwani ghat under Parbatta block, located around 45km from the district headquarters, has been underway for the past eleven years.The foundation stone of the 3,160-metre-long four-lane cable-stayed bridge, along with its approach road, was laid by CM Nitish Kumar on Feb 23, 2014, through remote control while addressing a public meeting at the playground of KMD College in Parbatta. The project was approved at an estimated cost of Rs 1,710 crore.Residents of the region had been demanding a bridge at the site since 1997. Once completed, the bridge will link NH-31 and NH-107, improving connectivity between Sultanganj and the districts of Khagaria, Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul.Officials said the completion of the bridge would reduce the traffic load on Vikramshila Setu. The project also includes the development of a dolphin viewpoint and toll plaza facilities.The bridge was originally scheduled to be completed within three years of the foundation laying. However, the work suffered repeated delays due to several bottlenecks, including recurring floods almost every year and the collapse of superstructures in April 2022 and June 2023.Earlier in the day, Amrit conducted an aerial survey of the construction site and later held a review meeting with senior district administration officials, including the DDC, the SP, the ADM and the Gogri SDO. Officials of the construction company and two local MLAs were also present at the meeting.