**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 789 concerning the construction of the Dumaria Ghat Bridge on the Gandak River in Gopalganj district. The original contract for the bridge construction, awarded to M/s Progressive Construction Limited-M Venkat Rao Infra Projects Private Limited JV on September 9, 2005, at a contract price of Rs. 263.97 crore, was terminated on February 11, 2016, due to non-completion of works.
Fresh bids were invited for the "Construction of leftover portion of additional 2-lane Gandak Bridge and rehabilitation of existing operational 2-lane Gandak Bridge." The work was subsequently awarded to M/s Ganesh Ram Dakonia on March 31, 2022, at a cost of Rs. 137.23 Crore.
The project commenced on July 30, 2022, with an initial scheduled completion date of January 30, 2024. The project has experienced delays due to flooding in the river, delays in receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Central Water Commission (CWC), and technical issues at the site related to the existing structure. As of the report, the physical progress of the work is at 63%, and the revised scheduled completion date is now June 30, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for the development and maintenance of road transport infrastructure.
Dumaria Ghat Bridge: A bridge on Gandak River in Gopalganj district, Bihar, India, which is under construction.
Gandak River: A river in India on which the Dumaria Ghat Bridge is being constructed.
Gopalganj, Bihar: A district in the state of Bihar, India, where the Dumaria Ghat Bridge is located.
NH 28: National Highway 28, a section of which includes the Gandak Bridge project (Km 402.000 to km 440.000).
Bihar: A state in India where the Gandak Bridge is located.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways at the time of the answer.
Progressive Construction LimitedM Venkat Rao Infra Projects Private Limited JV: The original contractor awarded the construction work for the Gandak Bridge.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 789
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
CONSTRUCTION WORK OF DUMARIA GHAT BRIDGE
789. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the construction work of the Dumaria Ghat Bridge on Gandak
River in district Gopalganj was awarded but the contract was terminated later
due to non-completion of works and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any fresh bids have been invited for the above work, if so, the
details thereof;
(c) whether there is any stipulated time for construction of the above
Bridge and if so, the time mandate for completion of its construction;
(d) whether any work had been started and terminated due to failure of
contractors to complete the work on time and if so, the details of the action
taken in this regard; and
(e) the present position of the tender documents for the above work and
whether this project is being delayed due to unknown reasons and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) and (d) Yes Sir. The construction of Gandak Bridge as part of
Development of 4 Lane of NH 28 from Km 402.000 to km 440.000 Gopalganj-
Muzaffarpur (LMNHP-WB 10) was awarded to M/s Progressive Construction
Limited-M Venkat Rao Infra Projects Private Limited JV on 09.09.2005 with
Contract price of Rs. 263.97 crore and was terminated on 11.02.2016 due to
non-completion of works as per Contractual provisions.
(b) The fresh bids for work of "Construction of leftover portion of additional
2-lane Gandak Bridge and rehabilitation of existing operational 2-lane Gandak
Bridge in the State of Bihar on item rate (percentage) basis.” were invited with
bid due date as 29.01.2022. The work was awarded to M/s Ganesh Ram
Dakonia at the cost of Rs.137.23 Crore on 31.03.2022.
(c) and (e) The work for balance works of Gandak Bridge was commenced
on 30.07.2022 with scheduled date of completion as 30.01.2024. The project
got delayed on account of flooding in river, delay in receipt of NOC from CWC,
technical issues at site regarding already constructed structure. The present
physical progress of the work is 63% and the scheduled revised date of
completion is 30.06.2026.
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