✎ Mahatma Gandhi Setu (also called Gandhi Setu or Ganga Setu) is a bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna in the South to Hajipur in the north of Bihar.
✎ Its length is 5750 meters (18,860 ft.) and it is second longest river bridge in India and also longest cantilever bridge of Asia.
✎ It was inaugurated in May 1982 by the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi; inauguration took place at north end of the bridge located in Hajipur.
✎ The bridge was approved by the central government in 1969 and built by Gammon India Limited over a period of 10 years from 1972 to 1982 with total expenditure of Rs. 87.22 crores.
✎ This was built to connect North Bihar with the rest of Bihar and part of National highway 19 (NH19).
✎ The bridge consists 45 intermediate spans of 121.065 meters (397.19 ft.) each and a span of 65.530 meters (214.99 ft.) at each end.
✎ The deck provides for a 7.5 meters (25 ft.) wide two- lane roadway for IRC class 70 R loading with footpaths on either side.
✎ The cantilever segmental construction method was adopted to construct this mega bridge. Each span has two cantilever beams on both sides which are free to move at the ends.
✎ It has two lanes one upstream and the other downstream each with width of around 6 metre. Both the lanes are also free from each other and are not connected anywhere.
✎ The spans are connected by using a Protrusion which is free to move longitudinally also along the river flow. In upwards and downwards direction it is such that it allows vibration to transfer smoothly to the next span while vehicular movement without much discreteness.
✎ The scenic view of the river Ganga validates the vastness of the nation’s largest and the world’s third largest river by discharge.
✎ The 5.7 km long viaduct is an engineering marvel and beautiful sight to see at night when it is brightened up by different coloured lights.
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