Bhagalpur’s Vikramshila Setu is set to close for construction work starting October 1st. However, prior to this, the opening of a two-lane section of the Munger-Mirzachowki four-lane project will provide an alternative route for travelers heading to Bhagalpur. Vehicular movement on this two-lane stretch, starting from Telia Talab in Munger, will commence on September 25th.
This will facilitate the approximately 58-kilometer journey from Munger to Bhagalpur, making it possible to cover the distance in about an hour. The opening of this route offers a new option for vehicles traveling to and from Bhagalpur and districts in North Bihar, including Patna, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur. Initially, however, vehicles will not travel along the entire straight line of the four-lane highway; they will enter the four-lane section from Telia Talab via a service lane. Vehicles traveling from Patna and North Bihar to Bhagalpur via Naugachia will now cross the Shri Krishna Setu to reach Telia Talab before proceeding to Bhagalpur via the new route. Consequently, traffic pressure is expected to increase on the Shri Krishna Setu and the Munger-Telia Talab route.
NHAI Project Director Manish Kumar stated that operations on one lane between Munger and Bhagalpur would begin on Friday. Traffic movement across both lanes of the Munger-Bhagalpur four-lane highway is expected to be fully restored by the first week of November. Construction of the overbridge at Telia Talab is progressing rapidly.
Shri Krishna Setu to serve as an alternative route
With the Vikramshila Setu closing, vehicles traveling to Bhagalpur from Patna, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, and other North Bihar districts will have a new alternative route via Munger. After crossing the Munger Shri Krishna Setu, vehicles will reach Telia Talab.
From there, they will be able to enter the Munger-Mirzachowki four-lane highway via a service lane and proceed towards Bhagalpur. The distance from Munger to Bhagalpur is approximately 58 kilometers. Once the new route is fully operational, completing the journey in about an hour will become much easier. The utility of this route will increase further while the Vikramshila Setu remains closed. Vehicles traveling from Patna to Bhagalpur via Naugachia will also have the option to travel via Munger.
Vehicles arriving from the direction of Begusarai and North Bihar will cross the Sri Krishna Setu to reach Telia Talab and proceed onto the four-lane highway from there. Benefits will also extend to the Kosi-Seemanchal districts.
The benefits of the new route will not be limited to Munger and Bhagalpur alone; small vehicles traveling to Bhagalpur from districts in the Kosi-Seemanchal region—including Khagaria, Saharsa, and Madhepura—will also gain an alternative route.
For the time being, vehicles coming from the Mokama side will reach Telia Talab via Safiyabad. From there, they will need to enter the four-lane highway via the service lane to proceed towards Bhagalpur.
**Wait required for the full four-lane stretch**
Despite traffic commencing on September 25, vehicles will not yet have access to a fully completed, continuous four-lane line. Depending on the construction status, vehicles will be routed through service lanes and connecting sections at several locations.
There will also be diversions at various points between Munger and Bhagalpur. In other words, while the route will open, the journey will still pass through active construction zones.
Launching before the closure of the Vikramshila Setu, this two-lane stretch will serve as a new connectivity option between Munger and Bhagalpur. Operations on the full four-lane route from Munger to Bhagalpur are scheduled to begin by November.
