Digha–Sonpur Rail–Road Bridge (J.P. Setu)

Digha Pul
Digha–Sonpur JP Setu
Coordinates25°40′05″N 85°06′30″E / 25.6681°N 85.1083°E / 25.6681; 85.1083
CrossesGanges
LocaleDigha–Sonpur
Characteristics
DesignWarren truss and double Warren truss
Total length4,556 metres (14,948 ft)
Width10 metres (33 ft)
Longest span123 metres (404 ft)
No. of spans36
No. of lanes2
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks2
History
Construction start2003
Construction endAugust 2015
Opened3 February 2016[1]
Statistics
Daily traffic14 pair of trains
Location

The Digha–Sonpur bridge (Hindi: दीघा-सोनपुर पुल) or J. P. Setu (Hindi: जेपी सेतु)[2] is a rail-cum-road steel truss bridge across river Ganga, connecting Digha Ghat in Patna and Pahleja Ghat in Sonpur.[3][4] It is named after Indian independence activist Jayaprakash Narayan. It provides easy roadway and railway link between north and south Bihar.[5]

It is 4,556m in length and the second longest rail-cum-road bridge in India, after Bogibeel Bridge in Assam.[6] Rail service was inaugurated on this route on 3 February 2016.

This is second railway bridge in Bihar after Rajendra Setu that connects North Bihar to South Bihar.[7] Indian Railways has constructed two railway stations on either sides of the bridge – Patliputra Junction (PPTA) and Bharpura Pahleja Ghat Junction (PHLG).

The project

Patliputra and Bharpura Pahleja Ghat station on both sides of bridge

Rajendra Setu was the only bridge that carried railway tracks across the Ganges in the state of Bihar till 3 February 2016. It was opened in 1959.[8][9][10]

On 22 December 1996 Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda laid the foundation stone for the construction of the railway bridge over Ganga at Sonepur.[11][12] Ram Vilas Paswan was the railway minister at that time, but the physical work on the bridge began in 2003 when Nitish Kumar was the railway minister.[13][14] The Digha–Sonpur Ganga bridge was initially sanctioned as a rail bridge; the project was converted to a rail-cum-road bridge in 2006. Total cost of the project was put at ₹13,890 million, out of which ₹8,350 million was for the rail part, and ₹5,540 million was for the road part. It was expected to be completed in five years.[15] The construction work on the bridge was completed in August 2015,[16][17] and a trial run of a diesel locomotive was undertaken on the bridge in the same month.[18]

Digha–Sonpur Bridge project was executed by Ircon International and the bridge was completed at ₹1,570 crore (US$200 million).[19][20] The electrification work on the Patna-Sonepur-Hajipur Section was completed by July 2016.[21] The doubling of railway tracks on the bridge started in May 2018,[22] and is being done at an estimated cost of Rs 156.09 crore and will be completed by December 2019.[23][24]

Construction of the bridge being completed, the inaugural commercial run on the rail bridge took place on 3 February 2016.[25] The Digha–Sonepur rail bridge was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 March 2016.[26] The second rail track is still to be laid. A new railway station Digha Bridge Halt (दीघा ब्रिज हॉल्ट) was constructed 3 km north from Patliputra Junction, near Danapur Bankipur road and opened for passengers on 25 November 2017.[27] It saves time for rail passengers going to Gandhi Maidan at least 1 hour.[28] The road bridge was inaugurated on 11 June 2017.[29] Link roads to connect National Highways on both ends are completed. The total length of construction, including approaches, is 20 km.[30] It is a K-truss bridge.[31] There are two rail tracks (up and down tracks) and a two lane road.

Its south link road which is also called as AIIMS- Digha elevated road (Patli Path) completed in December 2020.

Politicking

Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar inspecting JP Setu in 2023.

In 1996, survey work for the proposed bridge was initiated by the Railways at three possible sites – Digha–Sonepur, Gulzarbagh–Hajipur and Ict Ghat–Sonepur.[32] Ram Vilas Paswan was then the Union Railway Minister and he lent his support to the Gulzarbagh-Hajipur site, as Hajipur was the constituency from which he was elected. Lalu Prasad Yadav, then Chief Minister of Bihar, lent his support to the Digha–Sonepur site. In the wake of the conflicting support of the political heavy weights, disturbances broke out at Sonepur. One person was shot dead.[33] Many experts opined in favour of building the rail bridge adjacent to the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the road bridge connecting Hajipur with Patna. However, political opinion prevailed and the Digha–Sonepur site was selected. ₹24 million was spent on the survey alone.[34] The proposal to construct the bridge was mentioned in the union budget of 1997-98 and at that time the estimated cost was ₹600 crores. The bridge was finally sanctioned during the term as Union Railway Minister of Nitish Kumar, present Chief Minister of Bihar.[35] The scope of work was expanded when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Union Railway Minister.

Service

Regularly scheduled passenger service was inaugurated on this route on 3 February 2016. Initially, six services will utilize the bridge connecting Patna with North Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Diesel Multiple Unit trains from Patliputra Junction to Barauni Junction via Sonepur, Hajipur, Shahpur Patori, to Gorakhpur Junction via Chhapra, Siwan, Thawe and Kaptanganj, and to Gorakhpur Junction via Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Raxaul and Narkatiaganj are among the initial services.[36][37]

Many of long distance Patna-bound trains going to northeast have already been shifted to this northerly route easing the burden on the heavily congested Mughalsarai-Patna rail line.[38]

Roll-on/roll-off

In May 2016, Roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) service was introduced from Bihta (private freight terminal) to Turki station in Muzaffarpur district covering a distance of 88 km through the Digha–Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge.[39][40] This is second such service in India. Before this, Railways started RoRo services in the Konkan region. The railway wagons ferry loaded trucks to their destination.[41] This is started by Railways to attract more loadings, reduce carbon emission and reduce load on Mahatma Gandhi Setu.[42] Approximately 44 loaded or empty trucks move in a rake and one rake do three trips a day. Ferrying of trucks weighing 15 MT (metric tonnes) cost ₹4,107 (US$51) and of empty trucks of average 6 MT (metric tonnes) weight ₹2,806 (US$35). Similarly, trucks weighing over 15 MT are charged ₹200 more for every tonne over 15MT. The maximum weight allowed is 66 MT. From 3 July onwards, starting destination is changed to Danapur instead of Bihita.[43]

Bridges across the Ganges in Bihar

The Ganges divides the state of Bihar in two parts. The mighty river makes communication between the two parts a difficult task.

  • The first effort to bridge the gap was Rajendra Setu in 1959.[8][9]
  • The next bridge across the Ganges in Bihar was the 5,575 metres (18,291 ft) Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the longest bridge in India at the time of its commissioning in 1982.[44]
  • It was followed by Vikramshila Setu near Bhagalpur.[45]
  • The fourth bridge across the Ganges in the state is the Digha–Sonpur rail–road bridge.
  • The Srikrishna Setu Munger Ganga Bridge was formally opened for passenger trains on 11 April 2016.[46] The road on the Shrikrishna Setu and the approach roads are now complete, and was inaugurated for traffic in February 2022.[47]
  • A fourth rail bridge over Ganga has been sanctioned at Bikramshila–Kataria with 18 km new rail line between Pirpainti and Naugachhia at cost of rupees 1601 Crore taking in consideration for access to north Bihar from Jharkhand by Jasidih Pirpainti new rail line under construction.[48]
  • Another 9.76-kilometre-long (6.06 mi) 6-lane road bridge is already under construction at Patna connecting Kachchi Dargah in Patna and Bidupur in Vaishali.[49]
  • Construction work of a double-track rail bridge, 25 meters upstream from present Rajendra Pul was inaugurated on 12 March 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating Patna Lucknow Intercity express.[50][51]
  • A 5.575-kilometre-long (3.464 mi) bridge Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge is under construction which will connect Bakhtiyarpur and Tajpur.[52]
  • The Arrah–Chhapra Bridge across the Ganges is complete, which connects Arrah and Chhapra and opened to traffic on 11 June 2017.[53]
  • A road bridge parallel to the existing rail and road bridge, Rajendra Setu, has also been planned.[54]
  • Another 4 lane road bridge is under construction at Sultanganj Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat Bridge[55]
  • A 4 lane road bridge is also under construction at Manihari in Katihar district which will connect to Sahibganj in Jharkhand Sahibganj-Maniharighat Bridge[56]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Express-train cheer for rail bridge". Archived from the original on 18 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Bridge opening boon for north Bihar link". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Bhelari, Amit (4 February 2016). "Million dreams on tracks". Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ganga bridge bonanza New projects to ease travel hassle". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Land bids put bridges in troubled waters Four new bridges being constructed over the Ganga in different locations across Bihar have missed their deadlines for completion. The existing bridges are dilapidated, adding to the woes". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Girder erection and deck casting work has been completed on 45 spans of the bridge in a record time". The Times of India. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Digha bridge: Only 10% rly track work remains incomplete". The Times of India. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Rlys begins bridge renovation work". The Times of India. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Indian railways history (after independence)". Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Indian Railways' Forgotten Frontier – Tribals Travel on Rooftops". Again in Bihar: 930 crore and 625 crore rail cum road bridges. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Digha-Sonepur rail bridge has an eventful past". The Times of India. 2 February 2002. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "Foundation stone for Bihar bridge laid again, for Lalu's benefit". 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "18-year wait 1996-2016". The Times of India. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Ramvilas Paswan had got foundation laying of the rail-cum road bridge from Digha to Sonepur by the then Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda without arranging fund for it". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Enlargement of rail bridge over Ganga near Patna approved by CCEA". one india news. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "'Digha-Sonepur bridge to be inaugurated soon Aug 6,2015'". The Times of India. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Rlys may miss deadline to open Digha bridge - the Times of India". The Times of India. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Loco makes smooth trial run on Digha-Sonepur bridge Aug 8,2015". The Times of India. 8 August 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ircon executes landmarkrailway projects in Bihar". The Times of India. 9 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to open 2 mega bridges on Pul Nigam day". The Times of India. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "Express-train cheer for Digha rail bridge". The Telegraph. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Sonepur bridge twin track work rolls". Archived from the original on 22 May 2018.
  23. ↑ "Railway track project by Dec. 2019". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Double track boon for bridge More trains between Patna & north". Archived from the original on 21 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Trains run on Ganga bridge, end 18-year-long wait". The Times of India. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "NaMo flags off train to Lucknow". The Times of India. 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016.
  27. ↑ "Dozen trains to halt, make life easier". Archived from the original on 12 April 2018.
  28. ↑ "Double track boon for bridge". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017.
  29. ↑ "New bridges over Ganga reduce distance in Bihar". The Times of India. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "Trains in India". PPPNOW.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  31. ↑ "Ganga River Railroad Bridge at Patna". Structurae. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  32. ↑ "Digha-Pahleja rail bridge gets go-ahead". The Times of India. 24 April 2000. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "दीघा-सोनपुर रेल पुल को लेकर शहीद का मना शहादत दिवस". Archived from the original on 18 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "Digha–Sonepur rail bridge has an eventful past". The Times of India. 2 February 2002. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  35. ↑ "'Rail bridge over Ganga would be nation's pride'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  36. ↑ Kumod Verma (2 February 2016). "Train to run on Digha–Sonepur bridge today". Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016.
  37. ↑ Kumod Verma and HK Verma (3 February 2016). "Trains run on Ganga bridge, end 18-year-long wait". Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  38. ↑ H K Verma (22 December 2015). "Saran residents await opening of Digha bridge". Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.
  39. ↑ "Railway kicks roll on off". 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2018.
  40. ↑ "ट्रेन पर सवार होकर गंगा पार गए ट्रक, रेलवे की हुई कमाई". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
  41. ↑ "Trains to ferry trucks, take load off Setu". Archived from the original on 30 July 2016.
  42. ↑ "Indian Railways launch RO-RO service to attract more loadings - the Financial Express". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  43. ↑ "ECR changes destination of 'roll on-roll off' to Danapur". The Hindu. 2 July 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016.
  44. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi Setu the Longest River Bridge in India". General Knowledge Quiz. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "Vikramshila Setu". Bhagalpur, Land of Art, Culture and Education. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  46. ↑ "Minister flags off passenger train between Begusarai and Jamalpur - Times of India". The Times of India. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  47. ↑ "Long-delayed road bridge over Ganga in Bihar to be inaugurated on Friday". Hindustan Times. 8 February 2022.
  48. ↑ "Bihar gets allocation of Rs 3171 crore in rail budget : PTI feed, News - India Today". Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  49. ↑ "Smooth today, faster tomorrow". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "PM Modi inaugurates three major railway projects worth Rs 7000 crore in Bihar | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  51. ↑ "New Mokama rail bridge likely to be completed in 4 yrs - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  52. ↑ "Nitish inaugurates construction of Ganga bridge connecting Bakhtiyarpur – Tajpur: bridge to open in 2015". Bihar Days. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  53. ↑ Singh, Rakesh K. (30 December 2010). "Ganga link to connect Ara & Chhapra". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  54. ↑ "Four-lane connector over Sone, Ganga". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 8 April 2011. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  55. ↑ "Nitish Kumar lays foundation of Ganga Bridge between Aguwani Ghat and Sultanganj | Biharprabha News". Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  56. ↑ "Sahibgunj-Manihari Ganga bridge to help dev Santhal Pargana economically: Raghubar das | the Indian Express". 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Digha–Sonpur Bridge.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.