A new six-lane bridge parallel to the JP Setu over the Ganga River in Patna has been given the green light. The construction company has received approval, and the building process is set to start next month. This new extra dosed cable bridge will be located approximately 180 meters west of the current JP Setu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this bridge on March 6, 2024. The bridge is expected to be operational by 2027. All necessary paperwork for the construction has been completed, and the selected construction agency has been given the go-ahead.
Four Approach Roads to be Constructed
Four approach roads, each about three kilometers long, will be built to facilitate entry and exit from the bridge on the Patna side. These roads are designed to reduce the likelihood of accidents. Instead of a rotary, separate approach roads will connect the bridge directly to Patliputra Path and JP Ganga Path. Each route will have distinct entry and exit points.
700-Meter Approach Road on Sonpur Side
On the Sonpur side, the new bridge will connect to an existing embankment located 180 meters west of the current bridge, with an approach road about 700 meters long. The current two-lane road on the Sonpur side will be widened to four lanes, with service roads expanded to two lanes with paved shoulders on both sides, making the total width eight lanes.
Enhanced Connectivity Between North and South Bihar
The new bridge, part of NH-139W and the Buddha Circuit, will significantly improve connectivity between North and South Bihar. With an estimated cost of ₹3064.45 crore, the 4.56 km long bridge will provide direct connectivity from Patna to the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor through NH-139, linking Aurangabad, Sonpur, Chhapra, Motihari, and Bettiah. It will also enhance access to important cultural and religious sites like the Vaishali and Kesaria Buddha Stupas, Someshwarnath Temple, and the proposed Virat Ramayan Temple.
Current Bridge Usage and Future Needs
Currently, the existing JP Setu, a two-lane rail-cum-road bridge between Digha in Patna and Sonpur in Saran, is primarily used by light vehicles. The new six-lane bridge is essential for commercial and heavy goods transportation.
Ensuring Construction Quality
To ensure top-notch construction quality, advanced technologies like 5D Building Information Modeling (BIM), Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS), and monthly drone mapping will be employed. The project will follow the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model.
18 Bridges Over the Ganga in a Few Years
Currently, there are seven bridges over the Ganga River in Bihar. With the construction of approximately 11 more bridges, this number will rise to 18 in the coming years. Patna alone will see an increase from three to nine bridges over the Ganga. Existing bridges include the JP Setu, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Rajendra Setu, Munger Bridge, and Vikramshila Setu. Planned projects include new bridges in Buxar, parallel to the JP Setu, Sherpur-Dighwara, parallel to the Gandhi Setu, Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur, Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur, parallel to the Rajendra Setu, Matiari-Shamho, Sultanganj-Aguwani, parallel to the Vikramshila Setu, and Manihari-Sahibganj bridges.
