Bhagalpur: Urgent structural and safety audits of the damaged Vikramshila Setu over the river Ganga are underway following the collapse of a section of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) slab of the bridge. Drones and other technical tools are being used to assess the extent of the damage and examine the present condition of the bridge.The structural and safety audit (SSA) is aimed at facilitating partial restoration of light motor vehicle (LMV) movement through a makeshift Bailey bridge connecting the two ends of the damaged stretch, subject to approval from experts.The audits are being conducted by teams of engineers and experts from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the ministry of defence, along with experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna, Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) and the national highway division of the road construction department.Around 30 metres of the RCC slab near pillar number 33, between the P2 and P3 spans, collapsed into the Ganga around 1.10 am on Monday. The bridge links Bhagalpur and Naugachia, connecting NH-80 with NH-31, and serves as a key route between south Bihar and the Seemanchal region of north Bihar. The bridge was inaugurated on June 30, 2001.Following the incident, Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary ordered a probe and sought the intervention of the central govt, particularly the ministry of defence, for the urgent construction of a Bailey bridge to restore regulated movement of LMVs and daily commuters.Bhagalpur district magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary said a high-level team from BRO, IIT Patna, BRPNNL and other agencies had conducted an extensive inspection of the bridge, including the damaged portion.“The repair and reconstruction work will begin only after the SSA report gives clearance and approval is granted by the experts,” the DM said.He added govt-run boat and jetty services have started operating free of cost between Barari Ghat in Bhagalpur and Mahadevpur Ghat in Naugachia from 5am to 5pm for daily commuters. Registered private boats have also been allowed to operate at subsidised fares under administrative supervision.
