Traffic returns to Vikramshila Setu as Bailey bridge restores Ganga link

Bhagalpur: Large numbers of vehicles were seen crossing the newly constructed Bailey bridge on Monday, a day after it was opened to traffic, bringing much-needed relief to commuters and businesses affected by the partial collapse of the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur. The temporary bridge has restored connectivity between south Bihar and the Kosi-Seemanchal region after 35 days of disruption.

Road construction minister Kumar Shailendra on Sunday inaugurated the Bailey bridge, 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.

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, severely affecting movement of people and goods. Following the incident, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was entrusted with constructing four sections of Bailey bridge to restore limited traffic.

The minister felicitated officials of 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 said the BRO provided excellent cooperation in completing the project despite adverse weather and severe thunderstorms. He said the temporary bridge would bring significant relief to residents on both sides of the Ganga.

Chief of project, BRO, Brigadier Amit Sakhre said the task was assigned by the defence ministry and completed within a record timeframe. “It was our mission to complete this work as quickly as possible and we are proud to have completed the construction of Bailey bridge in record time-frame with the efforts of BROs engineers, technical experts and workers,” he said.

“The traffic movement and entire operation will be a one-way route under regulated manner and thereby people may have to wait for a short while up to a maximum of 10-15 minutes for crossing the bridge. We are maintaining and will be monitoring the safety of the Bailey bridge and will carry out daily maintenance to ensure safety of commuters,” the district magistrate said.

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.