New rail bridge over Ganga near Mokama to be operational by June this year

Patna: In a major boost to rail infrastructure, the railways is set to make functional a new rail bridge parallel to the Rajendra Setu between Hathida and Simaria near Mokama by June this year.The Rs1,700-crore project under East Central Railway’s Danapur division is expected to ease congestion across the Ganga and improve both passenger and freight movement between north and south Bihar. The ambitious project, launched in 2018, is about 1.86km long and has now reached an advanced stage of completion.According to Danapur senior divisional commercial manager (DCM) Abhinav Siddarth, the bridge incorporates advanced engineering technology and features 17 spans, each ranging between 60 and 70 metres, ensuring enhanced structural strength and durability.“The modern design will allow passenger trains to operate at speeds of up to 160 kmph, significantly improving travel efficiency on this crucial route,” he said, adding that Danapur ADRM Rajiv Kumar recently visited the site and inspected the progress of the work.The bridge is expected to play a vital role in decongesting the existing rail network over the Ganga and will particularly benefit freight operations. It is set to give a major boost to the transportation of key commodities such as petroleum, coal and fertilisers, especially to industrial hubs like Barauni and Begusarai, Siddarth said.Once the new rail bridge becomes operational, it is expected to ease pressure on the existing Rajendra Setu, which has long been a critical but heavily burdened rail link over the Ganga.Besides, traffic movement on the Delhi–Patna–Kolkata and Barauni–Begusarai routes will become faster and more convenient, he added.