Rajendra Setu
Rajendra Setu from Simaria ghat
Coordinates25°22′32″N 85°59′54″E / 25.3756°N 85.9983°E / 25.3756; 85.9983
CarriesMokama–Barauni section rail track, NH 31
CrossesGanges
LocaleBarauni, Mokama
Official nameRajendra Setu
Other name(s)Simaria Pul
Named forRajendra Prasad
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
Total length2,000 metres (6,600 ft)
No. of spans14 x 400 ft
4 x 100 ft
History
Engineering design byBraithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company
OpenedMay, 1959
Statistics
Daily trafficDouble road track & Single line rail track
Tollno
Location

Rajendra Setu, or Simaria Bridge, is a bridge across the Ganges that was the first to link the northern and southern portions of the state of Bihar.[1][2] The location of the bridge was based on the work of M. Visvesvaraya, who was more than 90 years old at the time.[3][4] In a wheelchair, he visited the bridge site on the special request of Bihar's chief minister, Shri Krishna Sinha. It was the first bridge over the Ganges to be built in independent India .

The foundation stone of this bridge was laid by Dr Rajendra Prasad on 26 February 1956 in the seventh year of India's independence.

The road-cum-rail bridge near Hathidah in Patna district and Simaria in Begusarai district was inaugurated in 1959 by Jawaharlal Nehru, prime minister of India, and Shri Krishna Sinha.[5] The bridge was constructed by Braithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company. It is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long and carries a two-lane road and a single-line railway track.[6][7][8]

Rajendra Setu (carrying single broad gauge electrified railway line at bottom)

A new bridge, carrying the four-lane NH 31 and double-track rail, 25 metres upstream from the existing rail and road bridge, was planned in 2011.[9]

Rajendra Setu at Simariya

The construction of the new parallel double-line railway bridge was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on 12 March 2016.[10][11] The new 1.9 km railway bridge was supposed to be operational by February 2021,[12] but is now expected to be operational by 2024. The contract for construction of the new bridge was awarded to M/s AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd by the Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON)on an EPC contract basis. Construction has also started on a new six-lane road bridge, which has a span of 34 metres, parallel to it, which is supposed to become operational by December 2024.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rajendra bridge falls off radar". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Ganga bridge bonanza New projects to ease travel hassle". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Sir's inimitable vision". The Hindu.
  4. ↑ "THE JEWEL OF KARNATAKA". Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Diversion to Rajendra Setu irks railways". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Rlys begins bridge renovation work". The Times of India. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Million dreams". Archived from the original on 14 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Indian railways history (after independence)". Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Four-lane connector over Sone, Ganga". The Telegraph, 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  10. ↑ "PM Modi inaugurates three major railway projects worth Rs 7000 crore in Bihar | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "New Mokama rail bridge likely to be completed in 4 yrs - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Bridge parallel to Rajendra Setu to be ready in 3 years". The Times of India.
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