Patna, August 21(HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Bihar on August 22, covering Patna, Gaya, and Begusarai. During his tour, he will dedicate to the nation Bihar’s first six-lane bridge over the Ganga—the Aunta-Simaria mega bridge in Begusarai.

In view of the VVIP movement, authorities have declared the entire stretch from NTPC to Aonta as a “Red Zone.” Special traffic regulations have been put in place with alternate routes for vehicles. For Patna–Mokama bound traffic towards Begusarai, the diverted route will be Aonta–Hathidah–Lakhisarai–Munger–Sahebpur Kamal–Begusarai. For vehicles heading from Begusarai to Patna, the diversion is via Zeromile–Teghra–Bachhwara–Dalsinghsarai–Musrigharari–Patna.

As part of the security drill, a five-kilometer radius around Patna Airport and all event venues has been designated as a temporary no-fly zone. Within this zone, drones, hot-air balloons, paragliders, paramotors, and other such aerial equipment are strictly prohibited. The state police headquarters has issued stern warnings of strict action against violators.

A Landmark Engineering Marvel Along the Ganga

Constructed at a cost of ₹1,871 crore and spread across nearly 8.15 kilometers, the Aunta-Simaria six-lane bridge is Bihar’s first modern, extra-dosed cable-supported bridge across the Ganga. The project, initiated and completed during Modi’s tenure, took nearly seven years to be realized.

Of the total length, 1.865 km comprises the main bridge, while the 6.285 km stretch consists of approach roads. According to the National Highways Authority of India, this state-of-the-art structure not only symbolizes modern engineering excellence but also strengthens the critical north–south connectivity of the state.

Inspecting the bridge ahead of the inauguration, Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen highlighted that the project will serve as a crucial corridor, bolstering connectivity to the northeast and fueling industrial and trade opportunities. “The Aunta-Simaria bridge directly links Mokama’s Aunta ghat with Simaria in Begusarai, creating a strong economic lifeline for the region,” he stated.

Union Minister and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh called it a historic milestone for Bihar’s progress. “In my constituency alone, under PM Modi’s leadership, we have witnessed a new NTPC, a fertilizer unit, a refinery, and now Bihar’s first six-lane bridge. This mega structure will be remembered as a turning point in Bihar’s development journey,” he remarked.

Successor to the Historic Rajendra Setu

Until now, commuters relied heavily on Rajendra Setu, a rail-cum-road bridge built in 1959 and inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. For decades, Rajendra Setu acted as a lifeline for South Bihar. However, with its ageing structure now under repair and unable to handle heavy vehicular traffic, the new six-lane Aonta-Simaria bridge—constructed parallel to it—will ease congestion and provide seamless movement across the Ganga.

The inauguration of this mega bridge is expected to become a defining moment not only for Begusarai but for Bihar’s larger ambitions of industrial growth and modern infrastructure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar