Road construction secretary Pratyaya Amrit addresses the news meet in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Chief minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate a bridge across the Gandak in north Bihar on Tuesday that will cut travel time in the region by at least two-and-a-half hours.

Residents who had to travel between Dhanha Ghat and Ratwal Ghat across the river in West Champaran district had a tough time.

In absence of a bridge, a Dhanha resident who needed to reach Bettiah, the district headquarters of West Champaran, had to go through Padrauna in Uttar Pradesh. Back on Bihar territory, they had to go via Paniyahwa and Bagaha to reach Bettiah, which is actually 90km away from Dhanha. The total distance covered used to be 155km.

The bridge, constructed for Rs 358.67 crore, will be a boon for the residents of West Champaran. Once Nitish inaugurates the bridge in Bagaha, around 250km northwest of Patna, on Tuesday, residents can cross the Gandak in an-hour-and-a-half.

The distance between Dhanha Ghat and Ratwal Ghat would come down to just 60km, thanks to the bridge. It would also allow villagers of Piprasi, Bhitha, Daunaha, Rangalahi, Tamkuha and Thakraha direct access to the district headquarters.

The construction of the 1.848-km bridge was started in 2009. The bridge was supposed to be completed by November 30, 2013, making the inauguration an early surprise for the residents.

Pratyaya Amrit, secretary, road construction, said on Monday: “We have completed the work five days before the date of completion. It needs a lot of dedication and hard work.”

The bridge will benefit the people in the region on many counts. If earlier, medical emergencies meant the residents had to depend on places such as Gorakhpur and Padrauna in Uttar Pradesh, now they can easily reach the newly started Bettiah medical college via the bridge.

Students from Uttar Pradesh can also avail the benefits of the Central University, Motihari, once the wing starts.

Business is also likely to surge, as sugarcane farmers in the area sell their produce to sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh.

The bridge, which is 7.5-m wide and supported by 42 spans, has been constructed by Haryana-based SP Singla Constructions Pvt. Ltd. The approach road from the Dhanha side is 0.884-km long, while from the Ratwal side it is 7.125km. Rs 60 crore has been spent on the construction of the approach roads.