Arrah–Chhapra Bridge

Arrah–Chhapra Bridge (or Veer Kunwar Singh Setu)[4] is the longest multi-span extradosed bridge in the world with a main bridge length of 1,920 m (6,300 ft).[5] The bridge crosses over the Ganges River in India, connecting Arrah in Bhojpur district to Chhapra in Saran district of Bihar state.[6][7] The bridge provides a roadway link between the northern and southern parts of Bihar. [8] The bridge opened for public use on 11 June 2017.[9]

Arrah–Chhapra Bridge
Coordinates25°43′41″N 84°48′52″E / 25.7279395°N 84.8144217°E / 25.7279395; 84.8144217
Carries4-lane
CrossesGanges
LocaleArrah and Chhapra in Bihar, India
Other name(s)Veer Kunwar Singh Setu
Maintained byBihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL)[1]
Characteristics
DesignExtradosed bridge
MaterialConcrete
Total length4,350 m (14,270 ft)
Width20.5 m (67 ft)
Longest span120 m (390 ft)
No. of spans16
History
DesignerMcElhanney Limited
Constructed bySP Singla Constructions Private Limited[2]
Construction startJuly 2010
Construction costRs 800 crores
Inaugurated11 June 2017[3]
Location
Map

As of April 2021, it is the 9th longest bridge above water in India. The second longest extradosed bridge is Kiso-gawa bridge in Japan which is 275 m long.[citation needed]

Project

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Politician Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for the Arrah-Chhapra bridge in July 2010. He said that his wish was to connect the Bhojpuri-speaking districts.[citation needed] The bridge reduced the distance between Chhapra and Arrah from 130 km to 40 km.[10] This has greatly reduce the distance of Arrah, Aurangabad and Bhabhua districts from Siwan, Chhapra and Gopalganj districts.[11] People can go from South to North Bihar without going to Patna district. This bridge connects NH-31 at Chirand near Chhapra to NH-922 at Koilwar near Arrah with a 4-lane bridge.[12][13]

The 800 crore (US$96 million) bridge is the longest multi-span extradosed bridge in the world.[14] The multi-span extradosed navigational section over the Ganges is 1,920m long and the bridge has a total length of 4.35 km, including the approach spans of more than 2 km. The 120m-long navigation spans are supported by five extradosed stay cables arranged in a single-plane harp configuration, whereas the approach spans are simply-supported. The navigation spans and 2 km of the approach spans are composed of single-cell precast concrete box girders, while the remaining 0.35 km of approach spans are cast-in-place. The total length of approach road on either side of the bridge is 17 km.[15]

Accident

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In September 2015, seven people were killed after a crane collapsed at the bridge construction site.[16][17]

Bridges across the Ganges in Bihar

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The Ganges divides the state of Bihar in two parts. The river makes communication between the two parts difficult.

The first effort to bridge the gap was Rajendra Setu in 1959. The next bridge across the Ganges in Bihar was the 5,575-metre (18,291 ft) Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the longest bridge in India at the time of its commissioning in 1982.[18] It was followed by Vikramshila Setu near Bhagalpur.[19] The fourth bridge across the Ganges in the state is the Digha–Sonpur bridge.

Munger Ganga Bridge is also under construction.[20] A 5.575-kilometre-long (3.464 mi) bridge Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge is under construction which will connect Bakhtiyarpur and Tajpur.[21]

Arrah–Chhapra Bridge across the Ganges connects Arrah and Chhapra.[22] A road bridge parallel to the existing rail and road bridge, Rajendra Setu, has also been planned.[23]

Status updates

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  • Jun 2017: Bridge inaugurated by Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar on 11 June 2017.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Incomplete Ara-Chhapra-bridge set for inauguration". The Times of India. 10 June 2017.
  2. ^ "India's longest multi-span Extradosed Bridge". SP Singla Constructions. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dedicates two road bridges to people of Bihar". The Indian Express. 11 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Bridge opening boon for north Bihar link". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Arrah-Chhapra Bridge". Structurae. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Ganga link to connect Ara & Chhapra". Archived from the original on 20 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Land bids put bridges in troubled waters Four new bridges being constructed over the Ganga in different locations across Bihar have missed their deadlines for completion. The existing bridges are dilapidated, adding to the woes". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  8. ^ Kumar, Madan (26 December 2015). "Ara-Chhapra road bridge on Ganga river to be ready by June 2016". Patna, India: The Times of India, 26 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015.
  9. ^ "New bridges over Ganga reduce distance in Bihar". The Times of India. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017.
  10. ^ "भोजपुरिया संस्कृति वाले छपरा व आरा जुड़ेंगे सड़क मार्ग से". Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  11. ^ "उत्तर और दक्षिण बिहार जुड़ जाएगा नई सड़क से आरा-छपरा के बीच बन रहा नया पुल शुरू हो जाएगा". Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.
  12. ^ "संस्कृति को सशक्त करेगा आरा-छपरा पुल". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Telegraph India | Latest News, Top Stories, Opinion, News Analysis and Comments". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to open 2 mega bridges on Pul Nigam day". The Times of India. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017.
  15. ^ "'Incomplete' Ara-Chhapra bridge set for inauguration". The Times of India. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Seven killed after crane collapses at Arrah-Chapra bridge construction site". Business Standard India. 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Seven killed after crane collapses at Arrah-Chapra bridge construction site". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  18. ^ "Mahatma Gandhi Setu the Longest River Bridge in India". General Knowledge Quiz. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  19. ^ "Vikramshila Setu". Bhagalpur, Land of Art, Culture and Education. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  20. ^ "PM opens work on Munger rail-cum-road bridge project". The Times of India. 27 December 2002. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Nitish inaugurates construction of Ganga bridge connecting Bakhtiyarpur – Tajpur: bridge to open in 2015". Bihar Days. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  22. ^ Singh, Rakesh K. (30 December 2010). "Ganga link to connect Ara & Chhapra". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  23. ^ "Four-lane connector over Sone, Ganga". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 8 April 2011. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
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External videos
  Working Video of F12 at Arrah-Chhapra Bridge Project in Bihar