Patna, April 7: Having failed to get funds from the Centre to undertake the repair work of BP Mandal Bridge (Dumri Ghat) on the National Highway 107 across Kosi river till now, the state government has started erecting an alternative bridge using its own resources. The Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam (BRPNN) has earmarked Rs 15 crore for it from its profit under the corporate social responsibility scheme.

“We have been forced to use the state resources for providing an alternative link as the Centre has not provided funds till date despite the state government submitting a proposal of Rs 43 crore for repairing the bridge,” road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav told The Telegraph.

He said the state government had also given an alternative proposal of setting up a pontoon bridge to the Centre till the main bridge was repaired, but the latter did not respond to it either.

Using the state’s resources, a sheet pile bridge is being constructed across the river. In all probabilities, it will be ready for public use in the third week of May. The bridge would provide a temporary alternative to people of Kosi region, including those living in Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul districts.

Sharing the logistics of a sheet pile bridge, a source in the BRPNN said hollow pipes are sunk 12m deep in the riverbed. “Once the sinking process is over, the hollow pipes are filled with sand. An iron sheet is then placed over the pipes,” he said.

The height of the temporary bridge has been decided after taking into consideration the highest water-level of the river at the time of flood. It had been done so to ensure people could use it even in times of flood.

The news of the temporary bridge would be music to around 50 lakh residents of Kosi region, forced to use boats to cross the river.

The movement of light vehicles on the existing bridge was stopped on November 5 last year. The heavy vehicles were banned on September 23.

Keeping the problems of people in mind, the road construction department arranged boats to ferry commuters across the river. The boats are still the only means of crossing the river.

The problem on the BP Mandal Bridge, which was thrown open to public in 1986, was first detected in August 2010. Its expansion point near the 16th pillar had increased unexpectedly. This gap increased alarmingly in September last year, after which the precautionary steps were taken.