[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

I am from the city of Chapra, which is almost 80 Km from Patna. To make my visits quick, I generally take a flight to Patna and then drive to Chapra.

Now you can always take the JP Setu. JP_Setu (Loknayak Jai Prakash Setu : Bridging the gap (Digha-Sonepur Bridge)) You'll save hours and kilometers.

It's always under repair but never seems to get completed. It always has huge jams.

It used to be under repair earlier. Now the whole superstructure is getting remade. West side lane ( Patna to Hajipur) is almost complete except a few spans and road laying work. Once this becomes fully operational, the east side will be made.

Meanwhile, a parallel 4 lane bridge on the west side has been sanctioned and ground work has started. Once it also becomes operational, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu will be made uni-directional and new one will be for opposite direction. New_Bridge

Once, a whole section had just randomly collapsed. I wonder what sort of planning goes into it.

Nothing like this happened. The span gradually sagged and vehicular traffic was stopped for over 4-5 years before repair was taken up.

[Leoshashi]

During my recent Bihar trip, I had the opportunity of traveling on this dilapidated yet iconic bridge. The western section is operational and both lanes travel on the same side. Repair work was going on the eastern wing.

Traffic issues happen only when someone tries to act smart and overtake. Government has provisions for Rs. 1000 fine if someone is caught overtaking, yet many people do so if they find policemen inactive. That's the issue in many cities of Bihar I think. The traffic density isn't as high as say the metros. Yet the traffic is unruly and there is absolutely no lane sense, which often clogs up the entire road.

While going towards Muzaffarpur, I managed to cross the bridge in about 15-20 minutes. I didn't stop anywhere. However got royally stuck on my way back and I was on the bridge for almost 2 hours. The experience of the bridge shaking is horrifying.

[Sanidhya mukund]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

Now you can always take the JP Setu. JP_Setu (Loknayak Jai Prakash Setu : Bridging the gap (Digha-Sonepur Bridge)) You'll save hours and kilometers.

Sorry, I used the wrong words. I did not mean to say that a whole 'section' had collapsed. What I meant was that there was a huge gap that had developed, enough to swallow half a bolero. Can't find a news article regarding that one, but found a similar example:

https://m.telegraphindia.com/india/2...ic/cid/1491816

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

Traffic issues happen only when someone tries to act smart and overtake. Government has provisions for Rs. 1000 fine if someone is caught overtaking, yet many people do so if they find policemen inactive. That's the issue in many cities of Bihar I think. The traffic density isn't as high as say the metros. Yet the traffic is unruly and there is absolutely no lane sense, which often clogs up the entire road.

Provisions are many but what can one do? Suspension

While going towards Muzaffarpur, I managed to cross the bridge in about 15-20 minutes. I didn't stop anywhere. However got royally stuck on my way back and I was on the bridge for almost 2 hours. The experience of the bridge shaking is horrifying.

I took it this Sunday on my return from Patna. Traffic was breeze, reached home in 2 hours. Had taken Digha bridge while going.

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

Sorry, I used the wrong words. I did not mean to say that a whole 'section' had collapsed. What I meant was that there was a huge gap that had developed, enough to swallow half a bolero. Can't find a news article regarding that one, but found a similar example:

https://m.telegraphindia.com/india/2...ic/cid/1491816

My bad, I thought you were talking about the 45th span which had sagged slowly over few years. The news you are talking about was mentioned by me here -

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/stree...ml#post3995257

Infact I had crossed it in morning and afternoon I got this news. I was scared as I had to travel back the same day. The expansion joint had caved in. But it was patched in a day or two.

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

Meanwhile, a parallel 4 lane bridge on the west side has been sanctioned and ground work has started. Once it also becomes operational, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu will be made uni-directional and new one will be for opposite direction.

Found out the notification regarding this new bridge. Attaching it's screenshot.

I'm unable to attach the pdf file of the same.

[BoneCollector]

Travelled across the mighty Ganges again , although took the Pontoon Bridge this time. Attaching a few snaps of MG Setu which show the current status of the repair going on as well as a video of Pontoon Bridge.

Wide just enough for 2 small vehicles to cross.


The MG Setu, old one (Hajipur-Patna lane) in foreground, new truss bridge structure (Patna-Hajipur lane) behind it.


Heavy duty crane.


Heavy duty crane on barrage.




Area with maximum water , work is still pending.




MG setu on left, Pontoon Bridge on right.












Fabrication of road going on.

Pontoon Bridge

The video is from my DashCam and I've stitched together 2 of them.

[BoneCollector]

Another update by Mr. Indrasen Kumar Jaiswal, a YouTuber who keeps on updating about this bridge and other projects in Bihar. As per him and the video, the deck has been laid till pillar 15. It's good to see the progress although the project has been missing deadlines.

https://youtu.be/Qyde1kUb93E

[BoneCollector]

The rehabilitated western lane of the Mahtma Gandhi setu will be opened for vehicular traffic from 15th June in all possibilities. Once this becomes operational, the work will start for eastern lane dismantling and refabrication.

Link

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

Found out the notification regarding this new bridge.

The tender has been cancelled and will be issued afresh. The main reason being speculated is Chinese partners in 5 out of 7 bidders.

Link

[BoneCollector]

Finally after a long wait, the western flank of the bridge is ready and will be inaugurated today. The eastern flank repairs will start after the monsoons are over as right now, the water of Ganges will not let any work to happen.

Inauguration

The steel super structure looks imposing and is claimed to last 100 years!

A beautiful video. Do watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ypP-jNcTg

[Shamegz]

AFFCONS undertook the refurbishing of MG Setu.

Some project details:

https://youtu.be/_RObnav1Zmc

[BoneCollector]

The eastern flank is scheduled for dismantling and refabrication, to be done in 18 months. An order was passed by the DM Patna to stop vehicular traffic on eastern flank from 20th August and reroute all traffic on the newly constructed western flank. This has led to traffic snarls as now there is no restrictions on passage of heavy vehicles. Earlier, vehicles with 10 or more tyres were not allowed to cross except those of essential services.

Link

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

The eastern flank is scheduled for dismantling and refabrication, to be done in 18 months.

The dismantling has started today. They're optimistic about the time frame with only issue being monsoons/flooding.

https://youtu.be/XYw_eX7FCXc

[BoneCollector]

The work on the bridge is going on at a fast pace. Plan is to complete the eastern flank by March 2022. The western flank is already operational. More details as of today can be found here in this video. Thanks to Mr. Indrasen Kumar Jaiswal.

https://youtu.be/oFHtE7LN-gM

The new 4 lane bridge is coming up just 38 meters from the existing one on its western side. The progress of the new one is also good with expected completion by 2024. Once completed, the MG Setu will become an 8 lane 2 bridge structure.

[BoneCollector]

It's been a long time since anything was updated here. The eastern flank of the bridge is nearing completion and should be ready by mid of next month. The western flank has been operational since last 1 and half years. It took 3 years for the western lane to be dismantled and remade. Since it was being done for the first time for a huge bridge, there were some issues that cropped up. But eventually, it got finished in about 3 years. It has taken just 1 and half years for the eastern lane to be fixed due to the expertise gained during the redoing of the western lane. I hope that both the lanes should be operating by May end.

https://youtu.be/MxflG8lRtZY

Thanks to Mr. Arun Mehta for the constant updates.