The newly constructed pontoon bridge parallel to Gandhi Setu was formally opened for public use on Saturday.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who also holds the road construction department portfolio, formally inaugurated it along with his elder brother and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav at a function organised at Terasia near pillar number 1 of Gandhi Setu.

The 1.92-km-long pontoon bridge, built at a cost of Rs 40 crore by Shristhi Developers, will now reduce the traffic pressure on the dilapidated Gandhi Setu.

Expressing happiness at the opening of the bridge, Sudhakar Kumar, a resident, said: "Everyday, I get stuck in the traffic jam owing to heavy rush of commercial vehicles. This pontoon bridge has brought a big relief."

Another resident and a government official working at the Hajipur headquarters of East Central Railway (ECR) echoed Sudhakar: "I have to commute to my office in Hajipur from my Patna home daily. So I can really feel that how much relief this pontoon bridge has brought."

The approach road starts from Alamganj police station on the Patna side and from Gandhi Setu police station on the opposite side.

Two pontoon bridges were proposed to be built. The second bridge is expected by June 2017. On Friday, superintendent of police (traffic) P.K. Das said from 6am to 6pm, vehicles will pass from Hajipur to Patna and from 6pm to 6 am, vehicles will pass from Patna to Hajipur.

After cutting the ribbon, Tejashwi walked on the bridge accompanied by principal road construction secretary Amrit Lal Meena and his elder brother. Later, both went to the place a few metres from the bridge where a public meeting was organised.