Eastern Bihar’s lifeline, the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur, is teetering on the edge of disaster. Cracks in its expansion joints, once a mere 1-2 inches, have ballooned to a alarming 7 inches. Heavy trucks passing over cause the pillars to vibrate violently, turning every journey into a gamble with death.
Daily traffic exceeds 30,000 vehicles, a mix of locals, merchants, and freight haulers vital to the region’s economy. Despite warnings from top officials—including the DM and NHAI engineers—the construction body remains inactive, ignoring multiple directives for structural audits and fixes.
Built and opened in 2001 under Rabri Devi’s tenure, the bridge bridges Purvanchal and Seemanchal, but years of wear without maintenance have taken a toll. Media spotlight, including TV9 reports, hasn’t jolted the responsible departments into responsiveness.
‘We’re driving on borrowed time,’ say locals, demanding immediate closure or repairs. The growing gaps signal potential collapse, and public outrage is mounting. Authorities must prioritize technical assessments now to avert what experts fear could be Bihar’s next infrastructure nightmare. Time for accountability is running out.