For over a decade, the Sultanganj-Aguwani Ganga Bridge in Bihar has been a symbol of frustration and unfulfilled promises. Launched 11 years ago, this crucial infrastructure project connecting north and south Bihar has missed more than 12 deadlines. The most alarming setbacks came between 2022 and 2024, when the bridge’s superstructure collapsed not once, but three times into the mighty Ganges River.
Experts from IIT Roorkee conducted thorough investigations into these repeated failures, pinpointing technical flaws in the original design. Senior officials made multiple site visits, yet the one-kilometer stretch over the Ganges remains incomplete out of the total 3.5-kilometer span. These incidents have raised serious questions about construction quality and project management.
Hope is reigniting with recent approvals for a redesigned structure. Adopting composite steel beams with concrete deck cable-stay technology, the new blueprint promises enhanced strength and safety. Construction firm SP Singla, tasked with the Rs 1,750 crore project, is gearing up to restart work imminently.
Approach roads spanning 20 kilometers on both ends in Sultanganj and Aguwani-Khagaria are nearly complete. Government officials now target 2027 for full operationalization. The bridge, poised to slash travel times and boost connectivity between Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts, could transform regional logistics if delivered on time.
Past collapses paint a grim picture: April 2022 saw sections between pillars 4 and 6 crumble under strong winds. June 2023 witnessed a massive failure near pillars 10-13, and August 2024 brought down pillar 9’s superstructure. Each mishap delayed progress and fueled public outrage. With design changes greenlit, will 2027 mark the end of this saga, or will delays persist?