BRO Builds Emergency Bailey Bridge After Vikramshila Setu Collapse in Bihar

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started constructing a temporary Bailey bridge over the damaged portion of the Vikramshila Setu in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district after a section of the key bridge collapsed earlier this month. The move is expected to provide major relief to commuters and restore partial connectivity between several districts affected by the disruption. Officials said the temporary structure is being built to resume the movement of light vehicles while long-term repair work on the main bridge continues.

The temporary Bailey bridge, measuring around 49 meters in length, is being installed over the damaged span to reconnect traffic flow that was severely affected after the incident. Ahead of the construction work, BRO personnel and local priests conducted a traditional ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony at the site. Authorities have directed engineers and workers to complete the project at the earliest due to the increasing hardships being faced by thousands of daily commuters who depend on the bridge for travel and transport.

The collapse occurred in the early hours of May 4 when a portion of the approach section on the Bhagalpur side reportedly subsided. According to officials, nearly 33 meters of the bridge structure gave way and fell into the Ganga River, disrupting one of Bihar’s most important transport links. The Bihar government immediately initiated administrative action after the incident and sought assistance from the central government to accelerate repair and restoration efforts at the site.

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The state’s Road Construction Department has suspended an executive engineer on allegations of negligence linked to the bridge collapse. The incident also prompted high-level discussions between Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding emergency support and bridge restoration measures. Senior military officials were also consulted as authorities explored ways to quickly restore connectivity in the affected region through temporary engineering solutions.

The Vikramshila Setu serves as a crucial transportation corridor connecting north and south Bihar and plays a vital role in linking nearly 16 districts, including parts of the Seemanchal region and neighboring Jharkhand. Officials estimate that close to one lakh people use the bridge daily for commuting, trade, and transportation. Following the collapse, traffic disruption created major logistical challenges for residents, businesses, emergency services, and transport operators dependent on the route.

The incident has also reignited concerns over infrastructure quality and maintenance standards in Bihar, particularly because the bridge had undergone multiple rounds of repairs over the past decade. The latest maintenance work on the structure was reportedly completed in March 2026, just weeks before the collapse. Questions are now being raised about the effectiveness of repair work, structural oversight, and long-term safety monitoring of aging public infrastructure across the state as investigations into the incident continue.

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