The Kosi Mahasetu that was opened to the public on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Patna, Feb. 8: The geography of the Mithila region has been re-scripted with the Kosi Mahasetu being opened for traffic today, bridging the Mithila region after 78 years.

The bridge, 1.878km long and 20.76m wide, connects the two parts of Greater Mithila that was separated by the turbulent Kosi river.

Union minister of road transport and highways C.P. Joshi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar jointly dedicated the bridge, built at a cost of Rs 418 crore, to the people at a function attended by thousands at Nirmali-Supaul in north Bihar.

Since the imperial-era bridgehead was broken in the devastating earthquake of 1934, the Madhubani-Darbhanga region had remained without easy and direct access to Saharsa-Supaul, even though they were within shouting distance of each other.

Madhubani and Supaul are neighbouring districts but in order to travel from one to the other, one either had to travel up into Nepal and then back down, or do the rather circuitous route via Barauni. All because there was no bridge across the Kosi. With the Kosi Mahasetu now ready, distances in north Bihar will be radically cut short. The bridge will take one from Madhubani to Supaul in less than two hours instead of the earlier eight to ten. It will also restore the cultural, economic and social ties between the regions that snapped eight decades ago.

The bridge, which connects the 487km stretch of the East West Corridor project in Bihar, has come as a bonanza to the local people and is expected to give a major boost to transportation, trade and commerce. The Bihar stretch of the corridor passing through this bridge begins from Gopalganj on the state’s borders with Uttar Pradesh, criss-crossing East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria and Purnea before entering Bengal.

Joshi and Nitish, on two ends of the political spectrum, showered praise on each other. The mahasetu is a project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), but it could not have come up without the cooperation of the state government.

“It is like a dream come true,” Nitish said, describing the bridge’s inauguration as “one of the happiest moments in the state’s history. The event should be celebrated like Holi, Diwali and Id”. The chief minister, praising Joshi, remarked: “You (Joshi) have responded to the call from the poor people of Bihar. I wish you success in your political career.”

Joshi responded by saying: “Whatever the Bihar chief minister dreams he gets it done within the stipulated time period. In a way, I envy Nitish’s work ethics. I have no qualms in admitting that Nitish has cooperated with central projects.”

Joshi said the country would prosper fast only when its states step up development work.

“The fast-paced development of the states is crucial for the development of the country in the federal structure. As such the Centre will keep on supporting the development in the states,” the minister said.

Reiterating his “vision” to ensure that people can reach Patna within six hours from any part of the state, Nitish reeled off several bridge and road projects in south, central and north Bihar that were in the making.

The chief minister said the improvement in the infrastructure of conveyance and communications has added to the prospect of investment in Bihar. “Investors in large numbers are in queuing up to work in PPP mode and build bridges and roads in the state,” he said.