JOIN USThe long wait for lakhs of people in the Kosi region was finally over when nine years after the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid its foundation stone, the 1.8 km long Kosi Mahasetu (bridge) was thrown open to the general public in Supaul on Wednesday.
Union Surface Transport Minister C P Joshi inaugurated the 20.7 metre wide four–lane bridge on the Kosi river. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, flanked by State’s Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav and Energy Minister Bijendra Yadav, was present on the occasion.
It was nearly 78 years ago when a devastating earthquake, which shook Bihar and other parts, snapped the link between Mithilanchal (comprising Darbhanga, Madhubani) and Seemanchal (Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura) in 1934. With the bridge caving in, the development in the region was also impeded.
Trade had suffered the most as the people of two neighbouring districts (Darbhanga and Saharsa) or (Madhubani and Supaul) had to cover a circuitous route which was several hundred kilometres long to reach each other.
On Wednesday, as the Kosi bridge, constructed by infrastructure giant Gammon India, was thrown open to public, Joshi (the Union Minister from Congress party) showered encomiums on Nitish.
He said, “I hope Bihar will be put on fast track of development under your able leadership.”
However, hundreds of people, who were badly hit in 2008 Kosi flood, showed black flags to Nitish.
They were protesting against inadequate compensation doled out by the State Government while rehabilitating those who lost their relatives, domestic animals and home in the devastation caused during August 2008 deluge.