Vehicular movement on Vikramshila Setu, an important road link between eastern Bihar, Seemanchal and north Bihar, will be completely stopped from midnight on Wednesday, September 30. The district administration has intensified barricading and security arrangements at both ends of the bridge ahead of permanent restoration and large-scale repair work. From October 1, the process of removing all four temporary Bailey bridges installed on the bridge will begin, with an 80-member specialist team of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) assigned to the task.
After vehicular movement is stopped, the section of Vikramshila Setu currently carrying limited traffic through the Bailey bridges will be completely cleared. The permanent restoration work will begin after the Bailey bridges are removed. The administration and construction agency are preparing to complete the process on an expedited basis. According to the existing plan, the entire process is expected to take around three months, during which normal road traffic will not be allowed on the bridge.
Security arrangements at both ends of the bridge were tightened on Wednesday ahead of the closure. Permanent barricading is being installed around the Ganga Bridge TOP to prevent vehicles from proceeding towards the bridge after midnight. The administration has arranged for the deployment of police officers and personnel to ensure that traffic and crowds do not create difficulties during the removal of the Bailey bridges and subsequent technical work.
Four Bailey bridges are currently installed on Vikramshila Setu. They were established as a temporary arrangement after a large section of the bridge was damaged and normal movement had to be stopped. Their removal is now necessary as part of the permanent restoration process. The BRO specialist team will technically de-launch the structures and has been tasked with completing the work safely within the stipulated timeframe.
The 80-member BRO team has already reached Bhagalpur, and administrative preparations for its work are being completed. The team includes technical and engineering specialists. Since the removal of the Bailey bridges will involve work at height above the Ganga, safety has been given particular priority. The administration has directed that accommodation, medical facilities, drinking water, toilets and security arrangements be ensured for the team.
An SDRF speedboat will also be deployed in the Ganga to respond to any emergency during the Bailey bridge removal operation. Instructions have also been issued to ensure the availability of doctors and ambulances. Police personnel will be deployed at both ends of the bridge. Rooms for officials at the Circuit House and accommodation for staff are also being arranged. These preparations cover both the technical work and emergency response requirements.
The restoration project is estimated to cost around Rs 99 crore. The construction agency has been assigned the work under the supervision of the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation. The project covers not only repair of the damaged section but also replacement of several older components related to the structural strength of the bridge. After the four Bailey bridges are removed, the permanent steel structure is proposed to be launched and new concrete slabs installed.
The old bearings and expansion joints of the bridge will also be replaced. The restoration plan provides for their replacement in view of the condition of these components after prolonged use. New high-capacity bearings are to be installed, while the expansion joints will also be replaced. The restoration work will therefore cover several important structural components of the bridge in addition to the damaged section.
Vikramshila Setu provides road connectivity from Bhagalpur to Navgachhia, Katihar, Purnia, Kishanganj and several areas of Seemanchal. With the bridge closed, vehicles travelling between these areas will have to use alternative routes. Information on alternative routes for small and large vehicles is being made available in advance so that traffic can be diverted to other roads after the closure.
Before the closure, the route has also started appearing as blocked on Google Maps. According to the report, an alternative route of around 161 kilometres from Zeromile to Navgachhia is being shown. The route is indicated as passing through Sultanpur, Munger, Khagaria, Narayanpur and Bihpur. This is intended to help vehicle operators plan their journeys after the bridge is closed.
A waterway alternative is also being prepared for passengers during the road closure. The district administration is preparing to operate ferry services from four ghats: Barari Pul Ghat, BIADA Ferry Ghat, Rajandipur Ghat in Sabour and Jahnavi Chowk Ghat. Control rooms, temporary police station rooms, medical camps, barricading, lighting and other arrangements are being made at these locations for passenger safety and convenience.
According to the administration's plan, ferry services are being prepared for operation from 6 am to 6 pm. Passenger return services are planned to begin from 5 pm so that operations can conclude within the निर्धारित time. Boats or cruises will carry passengers according to their capacity. Safety standards and required permissions are being checked for the service.
The Bhagalpur administration is preparing to operate 12 cruises, including six small and six large cruises. The small cruises are stated to have a capacity of around 100 to 200 passengers, while the large cruises are stated to have a capacity of 1,000 to 1,500 passengers. Preparations are being made to operate large cruises from Babupur, with arrangements also being developed to carry goods vehicles on them. The administration is preparing to provide free travel for passengers.
The administration has given particular attention to safety arrangements for the waterway alternative. Instructions have been issued to remove encroachments around the ghats, repair approach roads and install adequate lighting and signage. Separate toilets for female and male passengers have also been proposed. Magistrates and police personnel will be deployed at the ghats, while arrangements are also being made for the deployment of magistrates and police on the cruises.
A four-member committee has also been formed to examine applications received for operating boats and cruises. The committee includes officials associated with transport and inland waterways. It has been directed to examine the capacity and safety standards of boats and cruises and submit a report. The objective is to ensure that passengers and vehicles can be transported safely through the waterway while the bridge remains closed.
The need for permanent restoration arose after a section of Vikramshila Setu measuring around 34 metres was damaged and fell into the Ganga earlier this year. Normal movement was subsequently stopped completely. Temporary Bailey bridges were arranged to restore movement at a limited level. The temporary arrangement is now being removed as the process of constructing the permanent structure begins.
After the Bailey bridges are removed, the construction agency will have sufficient workspace on the main span. The next phase will involve installing the permanent steel structure using modern technology and heavy machinery, carrying out slab work and repairing other structural components of the bridge. A specialist team of experienced engineers who have worked on major bridges in Patna and Guwahati has also been formed for the construction work.
The administration and construction agency have to complete the work according to the planned three-month period. Since the bridge will remain completely closed, the closure will directly affect road traffic. Alternative road routes and waterway arrangements will therefore need to remain operational. The administration's preparations include both traffic control and safety arrangements at the ghats and along the waterway.
For residents of Bhagalpur and Navgachhia, the bridge closure will affect daily travel during the restoration period. People using the bridge for employment, business, education, medical treatment and other essential purposes will have to change their travel routes. Goods vehicles will also have to use alternative routes. This may increase travel distance and time, and the administration is preparing to provide information about alternative routes in advance.
Police and administrative officials will be deployed at both ends of the bridge to control traffic following the closure. A security perimeter will be established to prevent vehicles from crossing the barricades and entering the construction zone. Safety rules will be strictly enforced during the Bailey bridge de-launching operation, as the work will involve height above the Ganga and heavy steel structures.
During the three-month period, the restoration plan includes removal of all four temporary Bailey bridges, installation of the permanent steel structure, laying of new slabs and replacement of the old bearings and expansion joints. The restoration will therefore cover several important structural components of the bridge in addition to the damaged section.
Vehicular movement on Vikramshila Setu will be stopped from midnight on Wednesday, September 30. From October 1, the 80-member BRO team will begin removing the four Bailey bridges, followed by the main phase of permanent restoration. The administration is preparing both road and waterway alternatives, while the construction agency aims to complete the restoration work within the planned period of around three months.
