The eastern flank of Gandhi Setu from Hajipur to Patna will be closed on March 18 and 19 on a trial basis before rehabilitation work starts from June.

Ram Awdhesh Kumar, chief engineer, NH wing (road construction department) said: "From the Hajipur side, span numbers 1 to 6 (around 600m) will be closed. Traffic will be stopped on this stretch."

As the rehabilitation work of Gandhi Setu - the lifeline of Bihar - is likely to commence from June, it will lead to traffic jams as only one flank of the bridge will be operational. Hence, the state government plans to restrict traffic movement before the dismantling process actually starts.

The traffic police have decided to deploy large number of police personnel to check the snarls on Gandhi Setu and other routes connecting the bridge. Sources said from Phulwarisharif to Gandhi Setu, two inspectors and 22 sub-inspectors will be deployed apart from a large number of police personnel.

Similarly, there will be deployment of quick mobile teams on different routes connecting Gandhi Setu.

The teams will be stationed at Gandhi Setu connecting Bihta, Neora, passing through Phulwari and Bypass. Similarly, there will be quick mobile teams at Bariya-Gaurichak-Masaurhi and Masaurhi-Didarganj. The work of the quick mobile teams will be to ease traffic congestions.

Patna traffic SP P.K. Das said: "Three to four companies of traffic personnel will be deployed on Gandhi Setu so that there is no traffic jam."

Sources said the reconstruction work on Gandhi Setu, spanning 5.57km, linking Patna to north Bihar, was delayed in the absence of an alternative route to divert traffic.

The Centre has taken up the responsibility to dismantle the superstructure and repair the bridge in 42 months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to launch the repair work, estimated to cost Rs 1,742 crore on January 15. However, the programme was deferred after the Patna boat tragedy that claimed 24 lives on Makar Sankranti.

Sources said after getting clearance from the trial, the dismantling process of the super structure will start. As part of an alternative arrangement, traffic personnel will also be deployed on the pontoon bridge and lighting arrangement will be made. As of now, the pontoon bridge is operational only for vehicles coming from the Hajipur side to Patna.

Ram said: "Our main challenge is only for four months as we are optimistic that by June, the Digha-Sonepur bridge will be operational and it will bear the major traffic burden of vehicles passing through Gandhi Setu." Sources said the department is working on a war footing to find alternative routes before dismantling the superstructure.

Movement of heavy vehicles on the Rajendra Setu at Mokama has resumed, while efforts are on to operationalise traffic on the Digha-Sonepur and the Ara-Chapra bridges by June.