District & Police administration’s alertness averted any big incident; No loss of life & damage to property reported
Bridge’s damaged portion will be completed within three months, says BRPNN Chairman Dr Chandrashekhar Singh
CM Samrat Choudhary talks to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking cooperation of BRO & Army in restoring damaged portion
A parallel four-lane bridge to Vikramsheela will be made operational by December
An Executive Engineer, Bhagalpur responsible for maintenance suspended
Patna, May 04: Following a span of Vikramsheela bridge in Bhagalpur caved in late Sunday night, Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd (BRPNNL) Chairman Dr Chandrashekhar Singh on Monday asserted that the damaged portion of the bridge will be completed within three months.
Besides, the traffic has been diverted on both sides as an alternative measure, he added.
The bridge, which connects Bhagalpur and Seemanchal area of the state, was constructed by UP Bridge Corporation and opened for public in the year 2001.
“A span of Vikramsheela Setu (bridge) in Bhagalpur caved in around 12:35 pm (on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday). It was noticed that a span of the bridge is sinking. Bhagalpur traffic police reached the spot and cleared the traffic on the bridge. A little later, the span caved in the river Ganga. No loss of life and damage to property was reported in the incident because of administration’s alacrity,” Dr Singh told reporters here at IPRD’s conference hall.
Patting the Bhagalpur district and police administration for showing alertness and timely intervention, Singh said that it could have been a major incident as there is a huge traffic rush on the bridge.
Singh was accompanied by Road Construction Department (RCD) Special Secretary Shailaza Sharma, IPRD Director Anil Kumar and RCD’s Engineer-in-Chief Anil Kumar Singh on the occasion.
CM TALKS TO DEFENCE MINISTER SEEKING BRO’S COOP
Singh said that Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary talked to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking cooperation of Border Road Organisation (BRO) and Army in restoring the damaged portion of the bridge.
A span of the bridge has been damaged and caved in the river but the pillar is completely safe, he said and added that it will be built as per the recommendations of the technical team which has been sent to the spot following the collapse.
A PARALLEL FOUR-LANE BRIDGE TO VIKRAMSHEELA TO BE READY BY DEC
The damaged portion of the bridge will be completed within three months, Singh said while asserting that a parallel four-lane bridge to Vikramsheela bridge is being built following the huge traffic pressure on it. The four-lane bridge will be made operational by December this year.
While initial fears in March 2026 focused on the collapse of protective “false walls” (shield walls) around the pillars due to strong currents, this May incident involved a direct failure of a portion of the bridge structure itself.
TRAFFIC DIVERTED
Stating that the traffic has been diverted with immediate effect following the incident of collapse, Singh said that the an alternative arrangement has been made to ensure smooth traffic flow.
The traffic coming from west side has been diverted through Sri Krishna Singh bridge in Munger while traffic coming from east side has been diverted towards Khagaria, he said and added that traffic movement will also be ensured through steamers which will carry light vehicles.
An Executive Engineer, Bhagalpur, responsible for maintenance has been suspended, Singh said.
“We had received information around a month ago about some minor problem (cropping up in the bridge). A team from RCD and Pul Nirman Nigan was sent to study and give its recommendations. We also sought advise from IIT Patna. It was found that both the pillars and the bridge are intact while witnessing damage in a false wall,” Singh said.
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is in the process of getting approval for carrying out maintenance of the bridge, he said while stating that Executive Engineer was tasked with the job of carrying out minor repairs of the bridge.
A team has been sent to the spot again besides asking IIT Patna to study and suggest ways for quick and early restoration of the damaged portion of the bridge, BRPNNL Chairman said.