ADB: US$500m for Ganga Bridge

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a US$500 million loan to build a 9.8 km long road bridge across the Ganges River to improve transport connectivity between North and South Bihar.

The new Ganga Bridge, to be located near Patna, will span both channels of the Ganges River and serve as an alternate route to the existing Ganga Bridge. It will be the largest river bridge in India.

The project will also build viaducts, embankments, and toll and service facilities, and will link to national highway networks.

The bridge, using state-of-the-art engineering techniques, will be the first of its kind in India.

The height and length have been designed to minimize impacts on the river itself and to ensure the bridge will be able to withstand climate-related stresses such as a rise in the water level.

Along with ADB’s loan and US$900,000 in technical assistance to improve bridge operation and management, the state government of Bihar will provide support equivalent to US$215 million.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of December 2020. fii-news.com