Cracks have been visible on the Vikramshila Setu over the Ganges in Bihar. The bridge connects north and south Bihar and ensures easy movement in the Seemanchal region. The age-old structure is already overburdened by daily gridlock; its condition is deteriorating day by day as walls to shield its pillars are worn out slowly.
Reports said that the false wall designed to protect the bridge's pillar is slowly falling apart amid erosion. The protective shield around a pillar has been entirely eroded, while the same structures around two others have been damaged, increasing the safety of the bridge people rely on.
The age-old bridge connects Bhagalpur (NH80) with Naugachia (NH31). It also serves as a significant corridor for locals as well as people traveling from Jharkhand to Assam and several other northeastern states. The relentless pressure has eventually made the structure weak, leading to gridlock stretching several kilometers on both ends. Even as the bridge is deteriorating with each passing day, the bridge has been witnessing congestion through strict enforcement and surveillance.
Several CCTV cameras have been put to monitor movements during the day. Also, traffic personnel are positioned at significant areas to prevent traffic congestion.
ALSO READ: Israel-US-Iran War LIVE Updates: 'We Will Not Accept Ceasefire', Says Iran FM Araghchi
The recent development coincides with earlier indications of expanding gaps in the expansion joints of the bridge, Patna Press reported. Sources claim that the gaps, which were initially between one and two inches, had grown to about six inches in several places.