Patna,(BiharTimes): Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who also holds the road construction department portfolio, inaugurated the newly constructed pontoon bridge alongside the Mahatma Gandhi Setu on Saturday.
Only one-way traffic movement is allowed at a time and it would remain opened between 6 AM and 6 PM due to absence of light arrangement.
This is the third such pontoon bridge to come up in the vicinity of Patna in the last two decades.
The then chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, fulfilling his promises made in the 1995 Assembly election got built pontoon bridges both in Danapur and Raghopur. He contested both the seats then. Raghopur was later represented by his wife Rabri Devi and now their son Tejashwi.
On Satruday Lalu’s eldest son and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav was also present on the occasion.
The function was organised at Terasia near pillar number 1 of Gandhi Setu.
The 1.92-km-long pontoon bridge has been built at a cost of Rs 40 crore by Patna-based Shristhi Developers.
The approach road starts from Alamganj police station on the Patna side and from Gandhi Setu police station on the opposite side.
Two pontoon bridges have been proposed to be built. The second bridge is expected by April next.
Later Tejashwi accompanied by principal road construction secretary Amrit Lal Meena and his elder brother walked on the bridge.
The brothers then went to the place a few metres from the bridge where a public meeting was organised.
The pontoon bridge has been constructed to pave way for rehabilitation of Gandhi Setu, whose superstructure is in the dilapidated condition.
Both the pontoon bridges would be dismantled around June-July, depending on the rise in water level in Ganga, and will start functioning again after the end of monsoon.
The two bridges would reduce the jam and congestion on Gandhi Setu. Unlike in the past the number of commuters between Patna and Hajipur have increased mamifold in the recent years, especially after the setting up of the headquarters of the East Central Railways and several educational institutions in Hajipur.
