The pontoon bridge to provide an alternative to Gandhi Setu for smaller vehicles is expected to be ready by February 20.
The Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd has awarded the work to private firm Shristhi Developers.
"The pontoon bridge would be ready latest by February 20 as very little work is left in the installation of the pontoon," a senior Nigam official told The Telegraph under cover of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media. "Altogether 160 slabs of the pontoons are needed for the bridge and 145 slabs have already been installed."
A pontoon is hollow, oval shaped, made of steel and floats on the water. The 3km pontoon bridge is being constructed to reduce the load on the Gandhi Setu, the only road link which between north Bihar and Patna, which is set to undergo major overhaul.
There will be 4km of approach roads to the pontoon bridge; from the Patna side it will be from a point near Alamganj police station, whereas from Hajipur the approach road will be from near Gandhi Setu police station.
"Apart from completing the pontoon bridge, work is also going on in full swing for completing the approach roads," the Nigam official said. "At present soil work is being done on the approach road, which would be followed by pitching and levelling."
The total cost of the project is Rs 90 crore for two pontoon bridges, but the road construction department will only start one bridge and the second would be constructed once the first one becomes functional.
"Initially to and fro traffic movement would be carried out from one pontoon bridge and once the second pontoon bridge is ready then the bridges will be one-way. Only light vehicles will be allowed on the pontoon bridge," the Nigam official said.
The Union cabinet on July 22 last year approved rehabilitation of the dilapidated Gandhi Setu at an estimated cost of Rs 1,742.01 crore.
The work was scheduled to start on January 15, but was postponed due to boat capsize incident in Patna in which 24 persons died.
The road construction department is awaiting for the response of the Union ministry of road, transport and highways for a fresh date to start rehabilitation work.
