In Patna, inauguration of the casting for 4.5-km-long rail-cum-road bridge at Digha was fulfilled by ECR GM Madhuresh Kumar at the bridge site in the city September 14. Railways has completed the launching of 22nd span of 123 metre girder of the rail-cum-road bridge so far. This bridge will have 9.075 metre carriageway width of road and 1.5 metre wide pathway on either side.    The estimated cost of the rail-cum-road bridge could go up to Rs 2,400 crore by the time it is completed. However, once the 4.5-km-long bridge becomes operational, people of Bihar, particularly those living in north Bihar, will have an easy access to Patna by both trains and road.    

The bridge is planned to be opened to traffic by March 31, 2015. Casting of road deck is likely to accelerate the progress of bridge work, sources said. Railways is using the most modern technology to build road on the bridge, taking all safety measures.