The under construction bridge in Bhagalpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

District JDU leaders have blamed the state government for land acquisition problems in constructing approach roads to the ambitious Vijay Ghat bridge project.

The bridge was a dream project of former chief minister Nitish Kumar and since he stepped down, the fate of the project has been hanging in balance. Sources said the bridge across the Kosi from Bhagalpur to Madhepura is likely to be completed by January 2015 at Rs 374 crore. KC Singla, a construction firm, has been assigned the project.

At Kadwa village (Bhagalpur), a middle school and other residential colonies have come up on one-and-a-half kilometre of the proposed approach road of the bridge. At Madhepura, problem of land acquisition at five places, too, has hampered the construction of the approach road.

“Nitish came here on November 16, 2013, and asked the district magistrates of Bhagalpur and Madhepura to settle the land disputes but nothing happened owing to lackadaisical attitude of administrative officials,” said Gopal Mandal, a JDU MLA from Gopalpur Assembly constituency.

The BJP MLA from Bihpur, Shailender Kumar, alleged that the projects had been delayed because of the state government.

For construction of the overbridge, pillars and spans were constructed on both sides of tracks but the company is awaiting permission from the railways to start work. “For construction of the overbridge, train movement on the Katihar-Barauni section would have to be stopped. For that, we have to obtain permission from the railways, which is a lengthy process,” said an engineer of the construction firm.

The Vijay Ghat bridge after completion, would reduce the distance from Bhagalpur to Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa and other north Bihar districts. The construction of the ambitious 1.84km-long bridge with 10.87km of a four-lane approach road at an estimated cost of Rs 219.47 crore was started in July 2010 with a deadline of January 2015.

Mohon Prajapati, project manager, KC Singla, said: “Owing to change of river course, erosion and other difficulties, the construction company faced immense difficulties in construction work.”

He said owing to river erosion at the southern portion of the site, the firm had to face difficulties in protecting the under-constructed pillars during this year’s floods.

Bhagalpur district magistrate Birendar Yadav was not available for comment.