J P Setu: A Game Changer for Connectivity in Bihar

 

J P Setu:
A Game Changer for Connectivity in Bihar 🚗🌉

Recently, I
had the opportunity to travel from Patna to Sonpur via the newly constructed J
P Setu, and to my surprise, I crossed the vast Ganges in just 15 minutes!
It was truly unbelievable—what once took 2 to 3 hours was now just a 20-minute
journey from my brother’s home in Patna to stepping foot in Sonpur. The sense
of relief and amazement I felt was beyond words.

The
Struggles of the Past ⏳🚦

For decades,
traveling to North Bihar was a tiresome affair due to limited bridge
connectivity over the Ganges. The two existing bridges—Rajendra Setu
(Mokama) and Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Patna)—were burdened with heavy
traffic, often leading to severe congestion. Mahatma Gandhi Setu, in
particular, became infamous for massive traffic jams, sometimes taking
hours or even days to clear.

In one
extreme case, a wedding procession (Barat) was delayed so long that it missed
the auspicious wedding time! Even more tragic, in May 2015, an ambulance
carrying a critical patient was stuck in a traffic jam on Mahatma Gandhi Setu,
leading to the loss of a life.

The Boon
of J P Setu 🌉✨

The J P
Setu, a rail-cum-road steel truss bridge, connects Digha Ghat
(Patna) to Pahleja Ghat (Sonpur) and has revolutionized travel across the
river. Named after Jai Prakash Narayan, this 4,556-meter-long bridge
has drastically improved connectivity between Mid Bihar, North Bihar, New
Delhi, and the Northeast states since its inauguration in 2016.

Commuters
now have a seamless travel experience, free from the frustration of
unpredictable delays. This bridge is truly a lifeline for thousands of
travelers and a symbol of progress for Bihar.

A Dark
Past and a Bright Future 🚦➡️🚀

A few years
ago, horror stories about traffic mismanagement and crime were common. A
friend of mine, a senior official and an avid photographer, once faced a nightmarish
three-hour jam on Mahatma Gandhi Setu. Worse yet, villagers from his
hometown were deceived by an auto driver, robbed, and beaten when they
were falsely promised a shortcut via a nonexistent Pipa Pul. These
incidents highlight the struggles people endured before J P Setu came to their
rescue.

Today, J P
Setu is a boon for commuters, easing traffic woes and ensuring smooth
travel across the mighty Ganges.

📸 In pictures: A glimpse of J P
Setu
📝 Text & Photos by: Ashok Karan
🌐 ashokkaran.blogspot.com

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