Daijiworld Media Network – Patna
Patna, May 22: Days after a portion of the Vikramshila Setu in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district collapsed into the Ganga River, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has commenced construction of a temporary Bailey bridge to restore connectivity in the region.
The move has come as a major relief for commuters, as the bridge collapse had severely disrupted transportation and affected daily movement across several districts.
Officials said a 49-metre-long temporary Bailey bridge is currently being constructed to facilitate the movement of light vehicles. Ahead of the work, priests along with BRO personnel performed ‘bhoomi pujan’ at the site on Saturday.
Authorities are aiming to complete the bridge at the earliest in view of the hardships faced by the public following the incident. The Bihar government is expected to resume the movement of small vehicles on the route soon after the temporary structure becomes operational.
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 4 when a nearly 33-metre stretch on the Bhagalpur-side approach reportedly caved in and fell into the river due to subsidence.
Following the collapse, the Bihar government initiated administrative action and sought assistance from the Centre to expedite restoration work. The state’s Road Construction Department has suspended an Executive Engineer over alleged negligence.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military officials regarding the construction of the temporary bridge.
The collapse disrupted connectivity across 16 districts, including the Seemanchal region and neighbouring Jharkhand, affecting the daily commute of nearly one lakh people. Vikramshila Setu is considered a crucial link connecting north and south Bihar.
The incident has also sparked concerns over the bridge’s structural safety, especially since it had undergone three rounds of repairs in the last decade, with the most recent maintenance work completed in March 2026. Questions are now being raised over the quality of construction and monitoring mechanisms.