Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Koilwar bridge in Bihar
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Patna, Dec 10: Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari virtually inaugurated the three lane 1.5 km long Koilwar bridge over Sone river in Bihar. A sum of Rs 266 crore has been spent on the bridge.
The existing two lane bridge for both rail and road traffic is 138 years old. A six-lane bridge is being made in its place, of which, a three-lane carriageway has been opened for public.
The bridge is major road for transport between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Gadkari said during the inauguration that the Ministry has approved a four-lane elevated road from Bharauli (Buxar) to Haidaria for providing connectivity to the Poorvanchal Expressway.
This is the oldest railway bridge in India standing since November 1862 and still in use. From 1862 to 1900, Koilwar bridge remained as the longest bridge in India. The steel lattice girder Koilwar Bridge (known as Sone Bridge when it was built) was the longest bridge in the subcontinent when built: construction started in 1856, disrupted by uprisings in 1857, and completed in 1862.