Vikramshila Setu is a bridge across the

Ganges The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...

, near

Bhagalpur Bhagalpur, historically known as Champapuri, Champa Nagari, is a city in the Indian state of Bihar, situated on the southern bank of the Ganges river. It is the Bihar#Government and administration, third largest city of Bihar by population and ...

in the

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

. It is named after the ancient

Mahavihara Mahavihara () is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a great vihara (centre of learning or Buddhist monastery) and is used to describe a monastic complex of viharas. Mahaviharas of India A range of monasteries grew up in ancient Magadha (modern Biha ...

Vikramashila Vikramashila ( IAST: ) was a Buddhist monastery situated in what is now modern-day Bihar in India. It was founded by King Dharmapala between the late eighth and early ninth century. It was one of the three most important Buddhist Mahaviharas ...

which was established by King Dharmapala (783 to 820 A.D.) . Vikramshila Setu is 6th longest bridge over water in India. The 4.4 km long two lane bridge serves as a link between NH 33 and NH 31 running on the opposite sides of the

. It runs from Barari Ghat on the

side on the south bank of the

to Naugachhia on the north bank. It also connects Bhagalpur to Purnia and Katihar. This has reduced considerably the road travel between

and places across the Ganges. However, there is intense traffic congestion on the bridge due to increased traffic and there is now a demand to construct another bridge parallel to it. On 21 September 2020 Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of another 4 lane road bridge of 4.445 km length over Ganga river parallel to Vikramshila Setu at cost of 1110.23 crore. In June 2018, another 24 km-long Vikramshila - Kataria rail-cum-road bridge between Vikramshila railway station (near Pirpainty south of Ganga) and Kataria railway station (near Naugachia railway station) north of the Ganga, with an expenditure of 4,379.01 crore was approved. It serves as only connection towards Bhagalpur side of area due vast and long expansion of Ganga river isolating both side of area. People earlier were totally dependent on small boats and steamers that would carry them from Naugachhia side of shore to Bhagalpur mainland and city and all the land areas beyond, which was isolated for very long due to lack of land connection between the area.

References

Transport in Bhagalpur Bridges over the Ganges Tourist attractions in Bihar Bridges in Bihar Road bridges in India Toll bridges in India Bridges completed in 2001 2001 establishments in Bihar {{India-bridge-struct-stub

See also

References