Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Babura-Doriganj bridge over river Ganga connecting Bhojpur to Saran district will be inaugurated on the birth anniversary of former CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad on June 11, 2017. The state government on June 10, 2017, named the bridge after the freedom fighter of the first war of Independence 1857, Veer Kuer Singh. A section of the people wanted it to be named after Bhojpur legend Bhikhari Thakur.
With the inauguration of the Babura-Doriganj bridge, the two districts having Bhojpuri culture will come closer. This bridge will also connect NH 19 and NH 30. Bhojpur DM Birendra Prasad Yadav himself along with other senior officials of the district is monitoring the preparation.
The bridge has been constructed with latest technology in two parts. Its 4 km long first part is over river Ganga with 53 pillars while the 350 metre long second part is a four lane road with seven pillars. This bridge has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 676 crore. Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited had prepared detailed project report of the bridge in July 2010. The foundation stone was laid on February 2011, and the bridge was to be completed by July 2014 but due to some unavoidable reason, the construction was delayed.
The bridge will link Chhapra, Sonepur, Siwan, Gopalganj, East Champaran, West Champaran and adjoining some places in UP from Chhapra side on NH 19 and Bhojpur, Buxar, Bhabhua, Rohtas and Patna from Bhojpur side on NH 30. So far, the people had to spend at four to five hours to reach Chhapra, Siwan and other places through Maahatma Gandhi Bridge but now they have to spend only two hours to reach there.
The bridge originates from Doriganj in Chhapra on NH 19 and connect with the NH 30 near Kulharia in Bhojpur district via Babura, Jamalpur, Jhalkunagar and Koelwar though some famers have refused to give land for not being given reasonable compensation for their land at Dhandia. They have also halted the ongoing work there. After the inauguration of the bridge, vehicles will ply through old Koelwar-Babura road.