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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Aunta Simaria highway project on NH-31 in Bihar tomorrow. The 8.15 km project includes a 1.86 km six-lane extradosed bridge over the Ganga, built at a cost of INR 1,870 crore. The new link directly connects Mokama in Patna district with Begusarai, significantly reducing detours for heavy vehicles that previously had to travel over 100 km due to restrictions on the older Rajendra Setu. Officials expect the project to strengthen regional trade, improve freight movement, support agriculture, and enhance access to religious and cultural landmarks.
The Aunta Simaria highway project on NH-31, which includes a new 1.86 km six-lane bridge across the Ganga, is set for inauguration tomorrow. The project, stretching 8.15 km in total, has been completed at an estimated cost of INR 1,870 crore. It establishes a direct road link between Mokama in Patna district and Begusarai, easing one of Bihar's most critical connectivity gaps. Advertisement
The new bridge is India's widest extradosed cable-stayed structure, measuring 34 metres in width. It features span segments ranging from 57 to 115 metres and cantilever arms of 70 metres. Built parallel to the ageing two-lane Rajendra Setu, which remains under repair and closed to heavy traffic, the bridge is designed to take pressure off existing routes. For years, the lack of capacity on Rajendra Setu forced heavy vehicles to take detours exceeding 100 km. With the new six-lane facility, travel time between north Bihar districts such as Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, Purnea and Araria and south Bihar regions including Patna, Sheikhpura, Nawada and Lakhisarai, will reduce significantly.
The bridge is also expected to improve access to Simaria Dham, a well-known pilgrimage site and birthplace of poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Officials note that smoother connectivity will support not only cultural and religious travel but also economic activity. North Bihar, which depends on South Bihar and Jharkhand for raw materials, will see faster movement of freight. Farmers, especially makhana cultivators, are expected to gain better access to national and international markets. Industrial hubs like Barauni will benefit from shorter routes for goods transportation.
The project has been executed using high-performance concrete mixed with silica fume for additional durability. It has been designed to withstand heavy traffic for decades. During construction, a railway under-bridge was created using push-box technology, ensuring that train services remained uninterrupted.
During his Bihar visit, the Prime Minister will also open other important projects. These include the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31, developed at a cost of INR 1,900 crore, and improvements to the Bikramganj-Dawath-Nawanagar-Dumraon section of NH-120. The NH-120 upgrade involves widening the stretch to two lanes with paved shoulders, improving connectivity in rural areas and generating new opportunities for local communities.
Bihar's Road Construction Minister Nitin Navin noted that from the project's foundation in 2017 to its completion now, the Prime Minister has demonstrated consistent attention to Bihar's infrastructure development. He said the bridge would stand as a landmark project, reducing the divide between North and South Bihar and laying the groundwork for future growth.
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