Bhagalpur MLA on indefinite fast over Vikramshila Setu jam issue

BHAGALPUR: The district administration will soon initiate concrete steps to ease the traffic flow on Vikramshila Setu and its two approach roads after BJP MLA from Bihpur in Bhagalpur district Kumar Shailendra proceeded on an indefinite fast in front of the office of the divisional commissioner from Tuesday to pressurize the state government and the district administration for finding a permanent solution to recurrent traffic jam.
Earlier, the BJP MLA had staged dharna on the assembly premises also during its winter session, besides the bridge recently and had threatened to sit on fast unto death in front of the office of the divisional commissioner if the district and police administration of Bhagalpur and Naugachia police district do not ensure free passage on Vikramshila Setu and its approach roads.
Bhagalpur divisional commissioner (in-charge) Sunil Kumar Singh had directed Bhagalpur DM Dr Virendra Kumar Yadav and SSP Vivek Kumar to solve the vexed issue of traffic jam on Vikramshila Setu urgently. He also asked the Bhagalpur DM to resolve the matter so that the BJP MLA withdraws his hunger strike. Bhagalpur divisional commissioner (in-charge), who at present is Munger divisional commissioner, said a high-level meeting in Bhagalpur will be held on January 3rd to find a solution to recurrent traffic jam on Vikramshila Setu.
Vikramshila Setu, the 4.7 km long bridge across river Ganga that connects NH-80 with NH-31, is the third longest bridge across the nation. On the southern end is the old divisional headquarters of Bhagalpur whereas on the northern end of the bridge is Naugachia police district. The bridge provides connectivity from Patna via Munger, Bhagalpur with Naugachia (NH-31) and Patna via Begusarai, Khagaria, Naugachia, Purnia and Assam. At the same time it offers connectivity from Jharkhand via Dumak-Bhagalpur and Sahebganj-Kahalgaon-Bhagalpur to NH-31 (also known as Assam road).
It may be mentioned that city areas including the exit and entry points to Bhagalpur district headquarters frequently face traffic jam for several hours during the day time and on many occasions traffic blockades continue for more than 10-15 hours including on Vikramshila Setu.
Inordinate delay in construction of city bypass road connecting NH-80 and NH-31 via Vikramshila Setu is another reason of traffic jam and road blocks on the bridge and city areas that spills over to the exit and entry points to the city.
BJP MLA Kumar Shailendra said the state government should also take up the construction of city bypass road immediately to ease the recurrent traffic jam that throws the civic life out of gear often since the bridge was opened in 2001.