Rapid Repairs Underway for Vikramshila Bridge in Bihar
Progress on Vikramshila Bridge Repairs
On Thursday, Kumar Shailendra, the Minister of Public Works in Bihar, announced that the repair work for the damaged Vikramshila Bridge in Bhagalpur is progressing swiftly. He expressed optimism that the bridge would be operational again within 10 to 15 days. After inspecting the repair site, Shailendra noted that the government acted promptly following the collapse of a section of the bridge earlier this month. He mentioned that a meeting was convened immediately after the incident, involving Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other officials, to devise a comprehensive repair plan.
The minister confirmed that the repairs on the damaged sections of the bridge are currently ongoing and assured that the process is being conducted with complete transparency. He elaborated that the bridge consists of three segments, and they are presently focused on repairing these areas. The government is fully alert, with clear directives from Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to ensure transparency in the work, which he personally came to oversee.
Earlier on Thursday, Pappu Yadav, a Member of Parliament from Purnia, visited the damaged section of the Vikramshila Bridge and criticized the government for the poor condition of the bridge and the inconveniences faced by residents. He alleged that boat operators are charging excessive fares for crossing the river and called for a free ferry service for the public. Yadav pointed out that boatmen charge 100 rupees for a child, and there are no boats available for students after 5 PM. He also mentioned that hotels are charging 1000 rupees, leading to spoilage of milk and delays in vegetable deliveries in the morning.
He further accused the government of corruption in infrastructure projects and questioned the quality of construction work. Yadav claimed to have written 50 letters to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and others regarding the Singla company, which has seen several of its bridges collapse. He announced plans to arrange five free boats for the public in light of the difficulties caused by the bridge's closure. On May 3, a section between two pillars of the Vikramshila Bridge, which connects the Purvanchal region to the Seemanchal area, collapsed. Following the incident, district officials and senior police personnel arrived at the scene, traffic was halted, and routes were diverted.