PATNA/BHAGALPUR, May 16 -- Temporary repair work on the damaged Vikramshila Setu is progressing rapidly, with officials hoping to reopen the vital Ganga bridge for light motor vehicles within the next 10 to 15 days, a senior officer of the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) said on Friday. The bridge, a key link between Bhagalpur in south Bihar and Naugachiya in the north, has been out of service since a concrete slab collapsed at midnight on May 3. The incident, which saw a 10-inch expansion joint subside followed by a slab near pier number 133 falling into the river, forced authorities to close the structure and divert traffic. BRPNNL managing director Jitendra Kumar, who supervising the restoration works, confirmed the development saying that the current focus is on restoring basic connectivity for light vehicles. The collapse has caused considerable hardship for locals. Many have been forced to rely on boats to cross the Ganga, leading to complaints of steep fares and limited services, especially for students after evening hour. Fresh produce and milk supplies have also been hit. Officials maintain that the repair work is being done on a war footing under the chief minister's direct instructions. Residents, however, are hoping for early restoration of normal traffic so that daily life and commerce in the region can return to normal. A day earlier, road construction department minister Kumar Shailendra, said the state government moved quickly once the collapse came to light. He had added that Border Roads Organisation experts are carrying out temporary repair on the three affected spans of the bridge to make it safe for lighter vehicles. Permanent restoration work to handle heavy traffic is expected to take at least another three months. On Thursday, Purnea MP Pappu Yadav visited the damaged section and sharply criticised the government's handling of the situation....