Indian government, ADB sign $500 million loan to help build longest river bridge across Ganges River

This will be India’s longest river bridge.

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.

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

"The signatories to the loan agreement for the Bihar New Ganga Bridge Project were Mr. Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India who signed on behalf of the Government of India, and Mr. L. B. Sondjaja, Deputy Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, who signed for ADB. The Project Agreement was signed by Mr. Jayant Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Bihar, and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Managing Director, Bihar State Road Development Corporation," read a government statement.

After signing the loan agreement, L. B. Sondjaja, Deputy Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission said that the new Ganga Bridge will significantly reduce travel time to Patna from the surrounding regions, in particular north Bihar, which will ease access of people to state’s administrative and social services. He further said that the bridge is expected to benefit over 9 million people.

Speaking on the occasion, Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India said that the construction of the bridge would be a major landmark for the State of Bihar and will be a crucial link between North and South Bihar which is divided by the Ganges River.