For most of the twentieth century, crossing the Ganga between north and south Bihar meant a ferry or a long detour. When the Mahatma Gandhi Setu opened in 1982, linking Patna with Hajipur, it was among the longest river bridges in the world. Four decades later, Bihar is building more Ganga bridges in a decade than it did in the previous half-century. In a state divided by great rivers, connectivity is development.
Roads
- Bihar has a large network of national highways, state highways and rural roads.
- Rural connectivity expanded rapidly from the 2000s under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and state programmes such as the Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana.
- Major corridors include routes linking Patna with Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Purnia and the Nepal border, and the East–West Corridor in north Bihar.
- Several expressways and greenfield corridors are planned or under construction.
Ganga bridges
| Bridge | Connects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rajendra Setu | Mokama area | Opened 1959; first rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga in Bihar |
| Mahatma Gandhi Setu | Patna – Hajipur | Opened 1982; about 5.75 km; its superstructure was later rebuilt |
| Vikramshila Setu | Bhagalpur | Road bridge |
| Digha–Sonepur bridge (J. P. Setu) | Patna – Sonepur | Rail-cum-road bridge |
| Munger bridge (Shri Krishna Setu) | Munger | Rail-cum-road bridge |
| Arrah–Chhapra bridge (Veer Kunwar Singh Setu) | Arrah – Chhapra | Road bridge |
| New bridges | Several locations | Including a new six-lane bridge parallel to Gandhi Setu and the Kachchi Dargah–Bidupur bridge; the Aguwani Ghat–Sultanganj bridge collapsed during construction, prompting inquiries |
Kosi Mahasetu
- A rail bridge (and road bridge) across the Kosi in Supaul district reconnected parts of the Mithila region that had been separated by the river since the 1934 earthquake cut the old rail link. The rail bridge was dedicated in 2020.
Railways
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| East Central Railway | Headquarters at Hajipur (zone created in 2002) |
| Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor | Passes through Bihar (near Sonnagar), easing freight movement |
| Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura | High-power (12,000 HP) electric locomotives, a joint venture with Alstom |
| Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowrah (Saran) | A joint venture with GE (Wabtec) |
| Rail Wheel Plant, Bela (Saran) | Manufactures wheels for railway rolling stock |
| Rail network in north Bihar | Conversion of metre gauge to broad gauge and new lines have improved connectivity |
Airports
| Airport | Notes |
|---|---|
| Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna | The main airport; constrained by a short runway and city location; a new terminal was built |
| Gaya International Airport | Serves Bodh Gaya; flights to Buddhist countries during the pilgrim season |
| Darbhanga Airport | Began civilian flights under UDAN in 2020 |
| Purnia | Civil flights started more recently |
| Bihta | A new airport is being developed near Patna |
Waterways
- National Waterway 1 (NW-1) — the Ganga from Haldia to Prayagraj — passes through Bihar.
- Terminals and jetties include Patna (Gaighat) and Kalughat.
- Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (with World Bank support), capacity on NW-1 is being improved.
- The Gandak and Kosi have also been notified as national waterways.
Urban transport
- Patna Metro — construction has been under way, with a priority corridor opening in phases.
- City bus services in Patna and other towns.
Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Rivers | Bridges are costly and technically challenging on shifting riverbeds |
| Floods | Damage roads and railways every monsoon |
| Congestion | Patna's roads and the approaches to Ganga bridges |
| Maintenance | Rural roads deteriorate quickly without upkeep |
| Project delays | Land acquisition and construction problems |
| Road safety | High accident rates on highways |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- When was the Mahatma Gandhi Setu opened, and which cities does it connect?
- Where is the headquarters of East Central Railway?
- Where is the electric locomotive factory in Bihar?
- Which national waterway passes through Bihar?
- Which airport in Bihar started flights under UDAN in 2020?
Mains-style:
- "In Bihar, bridges are development." Discuss.
- Examine the potential of inland waterways for Bihar's economy.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
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