[BoneCollector]

The mighty Ganges is spanned by so many bridges across its length. Sadly, the shortest connectivity between North Bihar and Patna, having the main civilian airport of Bihar (Patna is connected to multiple cities, Gaya is the other one) was by the Mahatma Gandhi Setu only. That bridge is already in a bad shape and renovation has started finally. Details here :- http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ndhi-setu.html .

Many bridge projects were sanctioned which were perennially delayed. Even the repairs were delayed for M G Setu. In the meantime, a railway bridge was sanctioned across the Ganges connecting Mughalsarai-Patna-Jhajha route with Gorakhpur-Hajipur-Barauni route at Digha-Sonepur in 1996. The road part was added in 2006 to the project. Details here :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digha%...3Sonpur_Bridge

On 22 December 1996 Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda laid the foundation stone for the construction of the railway bridge over Ganga at Sonepur but the physical work on the bridge began in 2003. The Digha–Sonpur Ganga bridge was initially sanctioned as a rail bridge; the 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.[15] The construction work on the bridge was completed in August 2015, and a trial run of a diesel locomotive was undertaken on the bridge in the same month. The road bridge was inaugurated on 11 June 2017. Link roads to connect National Highways on both ends are still to be completed. This bridge of 4,556 metres (14,948 ft) length is amongst the longest bridges in India. The total length of construction, including approaches, would be 20 km.

This bridge has been named as Loknayak Jai Prakash Setu or JP Setu. The bridge was inaugurated on 11th June, 2017 and since then has been savior for people travelling from North Bihar to Patna. The buses and commercial vehicles are not allowed on this bridge as yet. I'll let the snaps do the talking.

Location screenshot from Google maps. https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/...8!4d85.1084166


The approach from Patna side. The railway bridge is the one coming from Patna side and going towards Hajipur side, only 1 line is operational. Other one has not been even laid. One has to take a U turn on this road to head towards the bridge.


This snap is after taking U turn on the road I was earlier on. The pillars are of the approach road to the bridge which again is under construction.


Same as last one.


Approach road from Patna side.


Approach road from Patna side.


The barricade to prevent Buses and Trucks to enter on the bridge.


The 2 lane approach road.


The mighty Ganges.


And the bridge.


The unending Bridge. Upper deck is road, lower one is rail.


On the right side is the railway line.


The approach road/ bridge.










Close up.








The bridge.






The Gangetic flood plains.




The end of bridge towards Hajipur end has a sudden dip. The angle can be seen in the approach snap from Hajipur end.


The railway line curving out to right side.


The approach road.


Railway line on right side.

[BoneCollector]

The village road at the Hajipur end.


Point of exit on the NH19, Chhapra-Patna Highway.


The current condition of NH19.


The current condition of NH19.


The current condition of NH19.


The current condition of NH19.


The pre-cast structures for Gandak bridge at Sonepur.


The current condition of NH19.


O yes, that's a Porsche Cayenne!!





The bridge over Gandak river, a new one is coming up on its left side.


The current condition of NH19, 4 laning in progress.


The approach from Hajipur end.


The approach road/ bridge. One can see the curving bridge at the distance.

https://youtu.be/pCd2u_Bf5SA

In this video, one can see the sudden drop along with the acute angulation at the end of the bridge.

Although the distance from most of cities in North Bihar to Patna has increased by about 10kms, its positively negated by the time saved. I will note down the pros and cons of this bridge now.

Pros:-

• It has given people an alternative to cross the Ganges without getting stuck in jam on M G Setu.
• It has made reaching airport easier as the Patna end is nearer to airport than that of M G Setu.
• Its free of the commercial vehicles and load carriers.

Cons :-

• The approach path on both sides are not good. The climb from Hajipur end is pretty steep where it meets the actual bridge and at an acute angle.
• The road traverses through thickly populated villages on Hajipur end with narrow roads. The villagers block the roads at times if any untoward accident has happened.
• The NH19 is in real bad shape but some construction is going on.
• The road towards Patna side ends in a densely populated area and the roads are narrower with heavy traffic. The pace decreases quite a bit.

Future aspects :-

• The approach road is under construction on Patna side. Once that's ready, it'll solve a big issue of traffic congestion.
• This bridge will also get connectivity with the Ganga Marine Drive road coming up on banks of the river.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loknayak_Ganga_Path
• The approach road on Hajipur end needs to be made so as to directly connect the NH19.

Some more facts :-

• A 6 lane bridge parallel to the Mahatma Gandhi Setu has been approved, I'm unable to find its news link. Similarly, a 2 lane bridge parallel to the J P Setu has been planned so as to make the whole of J P Setu as a 4 lane bridge.
• Another civilian airport is coming up at Darbhanga in North Bihar which will effectively ease the pain of travelling to Patna. http://www.thehindu.com/business/Ind...le22514633.ece

From Wikipedia

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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajendra_Setu
• 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.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi_Setu
• It was followed by Vikramshila Setu near Bhagalpur.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikramshila_Setu
• The fourth bridge across the Ganges in the state is the Digha–Sonpur rail–road bridge.
• The Srikrishna Setu Munger Ganga Bridge was formally opened for passenger trains on 11 April 2016. The road on the bridge is complete, too, but approach roads on both ends are not even in initial stage due to lack of land acquisition.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munger_Ganga_Bridge
• A fourth rail bridge over Ganga has been sanctioned at Bikramshila–Kataria with 18 km new rail line between Pirpainti and Naugachhia at cost of rupees 1601 Crore taking in consideration for access to north Bihar from Jharkhand by Jasidih Pirpainti new rail line under construction.
• Construction work of a double-track rail bridge, 25 meters upstream from present Rajendra Pul was inaugurated on 12 March 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating Patna Lucknow Intercity express.
• A 5.575-kilometre-long (3.464 mi) bridge Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge is under construction which will connect Bakhtiyarpur and Tajpur.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakhti...3Tajpur_Bridge
• Another 6-lane road bridge is already under construction at Patna connecting Kachchi Dargah in Patna and Bidupur in Vaishali.
• The Arrah–Chhapra Bridge across the Ganges is complete, which connects Arrah and Chhapra and opened to traffic on 11 June 2017.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrah%...Chhapra_Bridge
• A road bridge parallel to the existing rail and road bridge, Rajendra Setu, has also been planned.
• Another 4 lane road bridge is under construction at Sultanganj Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat Bridge.
• A 4 lane road bridge is also under construction at Manihari in Katihar district which will connect to Sahibganj in Jharkhand Sahibganj-Maniharighat Bridge.

I'll add more details as and when I get them. I'll try to answer questions as per the information i'll have with me.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Travelogues Section. Thanks for sharing!

[Amit_breakfree]

This is a great news for people travelling to and from Patna and comes at the right time as I will be travelling to Darbhanga from Patna on 17th of this month. I still remember the huge traffic jams on Mahatama Gandhi Setu and the last time I traveled on it last year, it was in pretty bad shape.

I will try to see how much time is saved in travelling. Will also try to post few pics if I am able to click any.

[amitjha086]

I have been to Patna once and that was some seven years ago. It was for one distant relative's wedding and I embarked because I had never been to Patna previously. When we were at Gandhi setu to arrive Patna from Hajipur side, it was still dark and sun-rise was still several minutes later. It took us a couple of hours to cross the bridge and while on the way, from the bridge, we got to see the beautiful sun-rise which made us forget the traffic congestion. So many years later, and I am sure the traffic situation on the Gandhi setu could have only worsened. The new bridge must be of great help to those who commute between north Bihar and Patna.
Regarding the sun-rise, unfortunately, I could not locate that photo in the hard disk but luckily found it posted on my facebook back in 2011. Not great snaps from my the then HTC Wildfire S, yet, fits the context.

[Kn1ght1941]

Excellent achievement. This bridge somehow reminds me of the legendary Koilwar bridge. We have some very good memories with that one. Let's hope our kids have better memories with this marvel, and more to come. Looking forward to driving on it, and will return using the Arrah Chhapra bridge.

[Sheel]

Thanks for sharing this Doc, I am yet to take this bridge but am just glad we have another option to enter Patna.

I usually prefer the Barauni route, but if I am not in a SUV, will prefer going via Muzaffarpur from here.

Thanks for sharing.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by niteshbids

Sheel, Have you driven down to Patna? If yes, which route do you prefer? The EW corridor via MFP, DARBANGHA? Or via Khagaria, begusrai, BAKHTIYARPUR?

The first one is probably faster but longer by a big nargin. The second is shorter but should be taking sinilar time for a much shorter distance.

I may have to travel to Purnia for some work in the coming few days.

Quoting at a more relevant thread:

Depends on timing of travel. While I usually take the Barauni route, I will not recommend it during peak hour. Secondly, when going to Patna, the stretch after Khagaria to almost Bakhtiarpur 4 lane is a mess, mess of bad roads, humans, cattle and what not.

The issue while going from Muzaffarpur side is the stretch once you start to enter Patna and that Gandhi setu being a gamble.

[BoneCollector]

One of the videos that shows the approach to J P Setu from Hajipur side. Somehow I'm unable to locate the approach video from Patna side.

https://youtu.be/X9uqrEhaTRU

As you can see, the angle of approach is too acute, both for the climb as well as turn.

https://youtu.be/VVuxP1uC9v4

On return, the sudden left turn and dip can be dangerous if speed is not kept within limit.

[BoneCollector]

Did a trip yesterday and I was in a state of shock after seeing Trucks plying on JP Setu. It seems that truck traffic has been allowed from Patna to Hajipur end at night between 10pm and 6am. But these trucks get stuck and clear the bridge after 12pm. It's very difficult to negotiate 2 vehicles in the single lane not occupied by trucks. I'll let the snaps and videos do the talking.

https://youtu.be/56fnKO6TM4c

https://youtu.be/DwldMSvBZfg

Snaps-











Line of truck extending well into the narrow city roads.

Traffic while returning.

Traffic while returning.

https://youtu.be/5Ru_tR3RpLI

Traffic while returning.

If this continues for a few more months, the buses also will start taking this route deliberately and we lesser mortals with smaller vehicles will have no option.

Another video I wanted to upload was of the approach from Patna end.

https://youtu.be/qTLfWwnA3_s

[hgps]

A couple of clips from my side as well, Taken on 28 Oct'18. 0500 hrs. I was going from Patna to gorakhpur (via gopalganj). There was a long queue of trucks blocking one side of two operational lanes. Since the bridge isn't lit. Its a very dangerous place to be for a two wheeler during the night/dawn.

https://youtu.be/pIGUgJlWtJE

https://youtu.be/9euOszn48f0

ps: Kindly excuse some overtaking maneuvers, i was paranoid about getting sandwiched between cars in that poorly lit environment.

[BoneCollector]

This is view of the bridge when you approach from Patna side.

https://youtu.be/4m_36gGmzvE

[BoneCollector]

A couple of clicks on a bright day.

The upper deck is road bridge and lower one is railway bridge.

[RashmiRathi]

I recently visited Patna and went to Marine Drive for a walk! Some pics of this bridge