December 28, 2023: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 27 gave its approval for the construction of a new 4556-m, 6-lane high-level cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga in Bihar state capital Patna. The new bridge will run parallel to the western side of the existing Digha-Sonepur Rail-Cum Road Bridge and connect two districts, namely Patna at Digha on the south side and Saran on the north side across the Ganga.
The bridge will make traffic faster and easier resulting in the overall development of the state, especially north Bihar. The total cost for the project is Rs 3,064.45 crore which includes a civil construction cost of Rs 2,233.81 crore.
“Digha (situated at Patna and South Bank of the Ganga) and Sonepur (North Bank of the Ganga in Saran District) are currently connected by a rail-cum-road bridge for movement of light vehicles only. Therefore, the present road cannot be used for the transport of goods and commodities which is a major economic blockade. The constraint will be removed by providing this bridge, between Digha and Sonepur and; goods and commodities can be transported once the bridge is constructed, unleashing the economic potential of the region,” the government said in a statement.
This bridge will provide direct connectivity from Patna to the Golden Quadrilateral corridor via the NH-139 at Aurangabad and Sonepur (NH-31), Chhapra, Motihari (East-West corridor old NH-27), Bettiah (NH-727) in the Northern side of Bihar. This project is a part of the Buddha circuit. lt provides better connectivity to the Buddha Stupa at Vaishali and Keshariya.
Also, the NH-139W provides connectivity to the famous Areraj Someshwar Nath Temple and the proposed Viraat Ramayan Mandir (the largest religious monument in the world) at Kesariya in the East Champaran District.
“This project is falling in Patna and will provide better connectivity to North Bihar and South part of the Bihar through state capital. The bridge will move vehicles faster and easier resulting in the overall development of the region. The Economic analysis results have shown an EIRR of 17.6% in the base case and 13.1% is a worst case which may be attributed to the savings in distance and time travelled,” the statement added.
Implementation strategy and targets
The work is to be implemented on an EPC mode with the use of the latest technology like 5D-Building Information Modelling (BIM), Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS), and monthly drone mapping to ensure quality of construction and operations. The work is targeted to be completed in 42 months from the appointed date.
Major impact, including employment generation potential
This project is aimed at providing faster commutes and to provide better connectivity between the North and South Parts of Bihar. Thus, promoting the socio-economic growth of the entire region.
Various activities performed during the construction and maintenance period of the project are expected to generate direct employment for skilled and unskilled workers.
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An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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