PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the long-awaited Aunta–Simaria six-lane bridge over the Ganga on August 22 during his Bihar visit. Built at an estimated cost of ₹1,871 crore, the 8.15-km-long bridge is being hailed as a new milestone in Bihar’s modern infrastructure.
Strategic Connectivity Across the Ganga
The bridge connects Aunta Ghat in Mokama (Patna district) with Simaria in Begusarai and runs parallel to the nearly seven-decade-old Rajendra Setu, which is currently under repair and closed for heavy vehicles. The new bridge will ease congestion and restore seamless connectivity between north and south Bihar.
Officials said the bridge will cut travel distance by up to 100 km for heavy vehicles moving between Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, and Araria in north Bihar and Patna, Sheikhpura, Nawada, and Lakhisarai in the south. It will also facilitate pilgrim access to Simaria Dham, the birthplace of the celebrated poet Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’.
Currently, only one lane of the bridge is operational. From August 22, both lanes will open for traffic, offering direct connectivity and reducing bottlenecks on one of Bihar’s busiest stretches.
PM Modi will also inaugurate the 44.6-km four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama road (₹1,899 crore), completing smooth four-lane connectivity from Patna to Khagaria via Mokama and Begusarai.
PM Modi first announced the Aunta–Simaria bridge in 2015 as part of a special package for Bihar and later laid the foundation stone in 2017. Officials describe its completion as a ‘transformational journey’ for the state’s connectivity.
Public Meeting and More Development Projects
During his visit, PM Modi will also address a public meeting at Magadh University in Gaya and inaugurate or lay foundation stones for more than 30 development projects worth ₹1,675 crore.
Once fully functional, the Aunta–Simaria bridge will:
- End long-standing traffic jams on Rajendra Setu routes
- Improve connectivity between Bihar and the Northeast
- Reduce fuel costs for transporters
- Boost regional trade and cultural tourism
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