Sawan's Arrival and the 'Mega-Crisis' on Vikramshila Setu Is the Administration Prepared?
Bhagalpur: The Vikramshila Setu, the vital link connecting North and South Bihar, is currently going through the toughest test of its existence. The pace of vehicles has seemingly come to a halt due to ongoing repair work, the construction of the Bailey bridge, and a damaged slab. The challenge is set to become even greater with the commencement of the holy month of Sawan. During Sawan, a massive crowd of Kanwariyas and devotees traveling from Sultanganj to Deoghar pass through Bhagalpur, which will multiply the pressure of vehicles on the bridge. This situation is nothing less than a major "fire-test" for the police and the administration.
Bailey Bridge: Necessity or Compulsion?
Following the development of a crack in the slab near pillar number 133, the administration chose the option of a Bailey bridge to keep traffic moving. However, this temporary construction has restricted the speed of heavy vehicles. The Bailey bridge has its own limitations, causing vehicles to crawl, which frequently leads to 'bottle-neck' situations on the bridge, making the passage of vehicles a matter of hours.
Sawan's Pressure: A Major Challenge for Traffic Management
During Sawan, the nature of traffic on the roads of Bhagalpur and the Vikramshila Setu changes completely:
The Rush of Kanwariyas: Millions of devotees carrying water from Sultanganj to Deoghar use this route. The confluence of private vehicles, buses, and trucks with processions of Kanwariyas creates massive crowds on the bridge.
Lack of Coordination: The biggest challenge for the administration is balancing construction work with traffic management. If vehicles are not regulated during construction, the bridge will witness a scene of 'traffic jams' that will be difficult for the police force to handle.
Safety and Ambulance Routes: During traffic jams, ambulances and emergency services suffer the most. There is an urgent need for an arrangement on the bridge that ensures a 'Green Corridor' for emergency vehicles.
Current Situation: Crawling Vehicles
Currently, the situation on the bridge is such that heavy vehicles have been instructed to pass at a limited speed. Police personnel stationed at both ends of the bridge are working hard day and night, but they appear helpless due to a lack of resources and the narrow structure of the bridge. The temporary dividers installed on the bridge are not only slowing down traffic but also creating significant hurdles in moving vehicles to the side in case of a breakdown.
Administration's 'Sawan Action Plan'
According to sources, the district administration and the traffic department have started working on a special Action Plan in view of Sawan:
Ban on Heavy Vehicles: During the peak days of Sawan, the operation of heavy goods vehicles may be banned under a specific timeframe.
Determination of Schedule: Consideration is being given to allowing trucks and commercial vehicles to pass only during the night or less busy hours.
Quick Response Team (QRT): The deployment of QRT teams with cranes and tow-vans will be increased on both sides of the bridge so that any vehicle breakdown can be cleared within 5 minutes.
Awareness Campaign: The district administration is warning drivers via loudspeakers to follow lane discipline on the bridge.
Will the Public Get Relief?
Experts believe that the problem will not be solved by police deployment alone. If the construction work (truss bridge work) does not proceed at full speed during Sawan, these jams could become even more horrific. The public demands that the alternative routes (ferry services) on both sides of the bridge be fully strengthened so that small vehicles and bike riders do not even need to climb the bridge.
At this moment, the Vikramshila Setu is not just a bridge but has become the center of a test for Bhagalpur. The month of Sawan will test administrative efficiency. If the administration does not prepare well in advance, the residents of Bhagalpur may have to face even more traffic jams in the coming days. For now, every driver passing through the bridge has one question on their mind—will they get relief from this jam during Sawan?
