Political Tensions Rise Ahead of Inauguration of Nitish Setu Bridge in Bihar

Patna, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the six-lane Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur bridge on November 21, dedicating it to the people of Bihar. Named ‘Nitish Setu,’ this ambitious project has sparked a flurry of political debate even before its official opening. Rohini Acharya, daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the funding of the bridge’s construction.

In a recent post on social media platform X, Acharya claimed that not a single rupee from the Modi government contributed to the bridge’s construction, despite the BJP attempting to take credit. She stated, “Zero contribution, false praise… ADB loan, public money, but BJP’s false drumbeat!”

Acharya asserted that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a loan of ₹3,000 crore for the bridge, with an additional ₹2,000 crore sourced from Bihar’s internal resources. She criticized BJP and central government leaders for trying to claim credit for a project they had no part in. According to her, the Modi administration has not contributed to the bridge’s construction, yet BJP leaders are portraying it as a significant favor to Bihar.

This sentiment was echoed by Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly, who had previously mocked the naming of the bridge as ‘Nitish Setu.’ Questions regarding the contributions of both the central and state governments to the project have been raised by the opposition.

The Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur bridge is viewed as a crucial initiative to enhance connectivity between northern and southern Bihar. While the government is focused on preparations for the inauguration, the opposition’s criticism has intensified the political discourse surrounding the project.