New Delhi, March 2 -- A new four-lane bridge near the ageing Farakka Barrage in West Bengal is nearing completion, promising to significantly improve connectivity between North and South Bengal. Constructed at a cost of Rs 622.04 crore, the 5.468-kilometre-long structure across the Ganga is currently 96 per cent complete and is expected to be operational soon.

For decades, traffic movement across the Farakka Barrage-built in the 1960s-has been marked by persistent congestion, affecting daily commuters, students, transport operators and local residents. The existing infrastructure has struggled to handle rising vehicular volumes connecting districts such as Malda and Murshidabad with the broader North Bengal region.

Officials said the ne...