Ganga Rail-Road Bridge
| Ganga Rail-Road Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Crosses | Ganges |
| Locale | Patna-Sonepur |
| Design | K-truss bridge |
| Total length | 4,556 metres (14,948 ft) |
| Construction end | Expected 2017 |
| Coordinates | 25°40′05″N 85°06′30″E / 25.6681°N 85.1083°E |
Ganga Rail-Road Bridge (Hindi: गंगा रेल-सड़क सेतु), is an under-construction Bridge across river Ganges, connecting Digha Ghat in Patna and Pahleja Ghat in Sonepur in the Indian state of Bihar. Upon completion in 2017, the bridge would provide easy Roadway and Railway link between Northern and Southern parts of Bihar.[1]
The project
Presently, Rajendra Setu is the only bridge that carries railway tracks across the Ganges in the state of Bihar. It was opened in 1959.[2][3][4]
Initially sanctioned as a rail bridge, the Ganga Rail Bridge project was converted to a rail-cum-road bridge in 2006. Total cost of the project was put at 
13,890 million, out of which 8,350 million was for the rail part, and 5,540 million was for the road part. It was expected to be completed in five years.[5]
When completed, the 4,556 metres (14,948 ft) bridge would be amongst the longer bridges in India.[6] The total length of construction, including approaches, would be 20 km.[7] It would be a K-truss bridge.[8]
The bridge is expected to be completed by 2017.[9]
Politicking
In 1996, survey work for the proposed bridge was initiated by the Railways at three possible sites — Digha-Sonepur, Gulzarbagh-Hajipur and Ict Ghat-Sonepur. Ram Vilas Paswan was then the Union Railway Minister and he lent his support to the Gulzarbagh-Hajipur site, as Hajipur was the constituency from which he was elected. Lalu Prasad Yadav, then Chief Minister of Bihar, lent his support to the Digha-Sonepur site. In the wake of the conflicting support of the political heavy weights, disturbances broke out at Sonepur. One person was shot dead. Many experts opined in favour of building the rail bridge adjacent to the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the road bridge connecting Hajipur with Patna. However, political opinion prevailed and the Digha-Sonepur site was selected. Rs. 24 million was spent on the survey alone.[10] The bridge was finally sanctioned during the term as Union Railway Minister of Nitish Kumar, the present Chief Minister of Bihar.[6] The scope of work was expanded when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Union Railway Minister.
Bridges across the Ganges in Bihar
The Ganges divides the state of Bihar in two parts. The mighty river makes communication between the two parts a difficult task.
The first effort to bridge the gap was Rajendra Setu in 1959.[2][3] The next bridge across the Ganges in Bihar was the 5,575 metres (18,291 ft) Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the longest bridge in India at the time of its commissioning in 1982.[11] It was followed by Vikramshila Setu near Bhagalpur.[12] The fourth bridge across the Ganges in the state is the Ganga Rail-Road Bridge.
Munger Ganga Bridge is also under construction.[13] A 5.575 km long bridge, under construction, will connect Bakhtiyarpur and Tajpur.[14]
A bridge has been planned across the Ganges to connect Arrah and Chhapra.[15] A road bridge parallel to the existing rail and road bridge, Rajendra Setu, has also been planned.[16]
See also
References
- ↑ "Digha Sonepur Rail Road Bridge to be operational by 2017". Biharprabha News. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Rlys begins bridge renovation work". Times of India, Patna, 12 July 2010. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Indian railways history (after independence)". Indian Railways. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Indian Railways’ Forgotten Frontier – Tribals Travel on Rooftops". Again in Bihar: 930 crore and 625 crore rail cum road bridges. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ↑ "Enlargement of rail bridge over Ganga near Patna approved by CCEA". one india news. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "‘Rail bridge over Ganga would be nation’s pride’". Chennai, India: The Hindu, 13 October 2009. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Trains in India". PPPNOW.com. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Ganga River Railroad Bridge at Patna". Structurae. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ Bhelari, Amit (2012-03-08). "New deadline for rail bridge". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 8 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ "Digha-Sonepur rail bridge has an eventful past". Times of India, 2 February 2002. 2002-02-02. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi Setu the Longest River Bridge in India". General Knowledge Quiz. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Vikramshila Setu". Bhagalpur, Land of Art, Culture and Education. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "PM opens work on Munger rail-cum-road bridge project". Times of India, 27 December 2002. 2002-12-27. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Nitish inaugurates construction of Ganga bridge connecting Bakhtiyarpur – Tajpur: bridge to open in 2015". Bihar Days. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ Singh, Rakesh K. (2010-12-30). "Ganga link to connect Ara & Chhapra". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 30 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ↑ "Four-lane connector over Sone, Ganga". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 8 April 2011. 2011-04-08. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
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