PATNA, Aug. 21 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Bihar's first six-lane Aunta-Simaria bridge over the river Ganga connecting Mokama in Patna District and Begusarai during his visit to Gaya Ji on August 22. On October 14, 2017, PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of Aunta-Simariya section of NH-31 and construction of 6-lane Ganga Setu. From Gaya, he will fly to Simaria in Begusarai to dedicate the bridge to the nation. The PM is likely to halt for around 30 minutes at Simaria and will walk on the newly-constructed bridge, said a senior official familiar with the matter. Built at a cost of Rs.1,900-crore, the bridge on NH - 31 is 8.16 km (including approach road), with a 1.865 km stretch over the Ganga river to connect north and south Bihar with smooth connectivity and reduce the load from the Mahatma Gandhi Setu. The bridge is 34 metres wide, while usually it is not more than 29.5 metres, said NHAI DGM (Media) Praveen Tyagi. The bridge has been constructed parallel to the dilapidated rail-cum-road bridge "Rajendra Setu", which is almost seven-decade old and restricted for heavy vehicles due to ongoing repair work. As a result, heavy vehicles have to take a longer route. The new bridge will reduce this extra travel distance by upto 100 km for the heavy vehicles, travelling between regions of North Bihar (Begusarai/ Supaul, Madhubani, Araria, etc.) and South Bihar (Patna, Seikhpura, Nawada, Lakhisarai, etc) and also save travel time, operation cost as well as fuel. The bridge will also provide easy link to the famous pilgrimage place of Simaria Dham, where King Janak of Mithila is believed to have initiated the Kalpavas Mela during the Treta Yuga and and that is still held during the month of Kartik every year when thousands of people gather and stay there for a month. Bihar government has also working on developing Simariya Dham as a hub for cultural tourism. Simaria has great religious significance as its water has a northward flow here (Uttarvahini Ganga), while it mostly flows in a southeasterly direction. Simaria is also the birthplace of famed poet Late Shri Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who was also a member of the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was known as Rashtrakavi. During the days before and during the Emergency, Jayprakash Narayan used his famous poem Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aati Hai (Vacate the throne, for the people are coming) to energise the youth. Bihar's minister of road construction Nitin Nabin said he was thankful to the PM for doing so much for Bihar. "This bridge will reduce the distance between north and south Bihar through this signature project. It is a reminder to the people how far Bihar has travelled from the lantern age when there were craters in the name of roads. The PM sees Bihar as the next growth engine and all his efforts are aimed at preparing a strong launch pad," he added. DyCM Samrat Choudhary said another visit by the PM would benefit Bihar with projects worth over Rs.12,000-crore. "Bihar is witnessing all-round development, thanks to the PM and CM's initiatives and it will only pick up momentum as the state strives to become economically strong with a robust infrastructure," he added. In Bihar, the PM will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth around Rs.13,000 crore and flag off two trains. He will also inaugurate the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur to Mokama section of NH-31, worth around Rs.1,900 crore, which will ease congestion, reduce travel time, and enhance passenger and freight movement, and Buxar Thermal Power Plant (660x1 MW) worth around Rs.6,880 crore. It will significantly enhance power generation capacity, improve energy security, and meet the growing electricity demand of the region. The PM will also dedicate to the people the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre at Muzaffarpur, which includes advanced Oncology OPD, IPD wards, operation theatres, modern lab, blood bank, and a 24-bed ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and HDU (High Dependency Unit). This state-of-the-art facility will provide advanced and affordable cancer care to patients in Bihar and neighbouring states, reducing the need to travel to distant metros for treatment. In keeping with his vision of Swachh Bharat and ensuring Aviral and Nirmal Dhara of river Ganga, Modi will inaugurate the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and Sewerage Network at Munger constructed under Namami Gange worth over Rs.520 crore. It will help reduce pollution load in the Ganga and improve sanitation facilities in the region. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a series of urban infrastructure projects worth around Rs.1,260 crore. These include the STP and Sewerage Network at Daudnagar in Aurangabad, and Jehanabad; STP and interception and diversion works at Barahiya in Lakhisarai, and Jamui. Under AMRUT 2.0, he will lay the foundation stone of Water Supply Projects at Aurangabad, Bodhgaya and Jehanabad. These projects will provide clean drinking water, modern sewerage systems, and improved sanitation thereby improving health standards and quality of life in the region. Boosting rail connectivity in the region, the Prime Minister will flag off two trains. Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi which will improve passenger convenience with modern facilities, comfort, and safety. And Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma which will give a boost to tourism and religious travel across key Buddhist sites in the region. A Grih Pravesh ceremony of 12,000 rural beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin and 4,260 beneficiaries under PMAY-Urban will also take place with the symbolic handing over of keys by the Prime Minister....