Patna: Public Investment Board (PIB) on Wednesday gave its nod for constructing a four-lane bridge parallel to Gandhi Setu. The bridge, costing Rs 2,961 crore, would be 5.63km long. The state will soon send the detailed project report (DPR) to the Centre.

PIB, under the finance ministry, vets investment proposals by state-run entities. As things stand now, Gandhi Setu is in a dilapidated condition as its repair work is still on.

On April 4, 2018, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav met Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari where discussion on a new bridge parallel to the existing Gandhi Setu took place.

"After meeting Gadkari ji, the matter was pending before the PIB, but it gave its nod today (Wednesday). This project is part of a special package announced by the Prime Minister. The length of the bridge would be 14.5km, extending from Zero Mile in Patna till Ramashish Chowk in Hajipur," road construction minister Nand Kishore told The Telegraph.

If all goes well, construction work on the new bridge parallel to Gandhi Setu would start by March. Nand Kishore stressed that the detail project report (DPR) would soon be sent to the ministry of road, transport and highways (MORTH).

Construction of the bridge would not face any land acquisition issues as there is no need to acquire land from any private entity. The bridge will come up to the west of Gandhi Setu. "We have already acquired 115 hectares for the new project. It would be an extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge and every span would be 242m long. It would be helpful for ships, as they can easily pass through it," Nand Kishore said.