Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : People of Uttar Pradesh and Bhojpur in Bihar have to cover at least 110 km more as the pontoon bridge across river Ganga from Mahuli ghat to Khawaspur has not yet been restored. The pontoon bridge was delinked on June 18, 2016, during flood and the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation had issued order for putting it back to its place between November 1, and November 15, 2016 but work in this regard is yet to start. This year, due to flood in weenriver Ganga, all the pontoons of the bridge were opened with a promise to attach them after the flood.
As a result, road link between Bhojpur and Uttar Pradesh via Khwaspur remains snapped for the last six months. At least 13,000 population of 18 villages and Tola in Khwaspur have to use boats to cross river Ganga. The people who wish to travel by vehicles have to cover 110 km more via Buxar to come to Bhojpur. Khwaspur is 18 km and Uttar Pradesh is 21 km away from Barahara via pontoon bridge.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had laid foundation of Mahuli ghat-Sitabdiara pontoon bridge over river Ganga on February 27, 2014, at an estimated cost of Rs 16.96 crore and the communication through it started on January 20, 2016. Earlier, people had to cross river Ganga by boats to and fro Khwaspur and Barahara and a number of persons had met their watery grave during their boat before January 20, 2016.
Junior Engineer, Bihar State Bridge Corporation, Kaushlendra Kumar said that the construction of pontoon bridge was under the jurisdiction of Patna Division 1 but after August 13, 2016, Ara Division comprising Bhojpur, Buxar and Kaimur districts, was formed. He hoped that the pontoon bridge will be started once again from January 2017.