• Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (Mega Bridge) of the Indian Railways to the nation through video-conference on 18 September 2020.
• Apart from this, PM Modi also inaugurated 12 other Indian Railway projects in Bihar related to passenger facilities for the benefit of the state.
• The approximate cost of these projects is worth almost Rs 3,000 crore and will strengthen Bihar’s rail network and also strengthen West Bengal and eastern India’s rail connectivity.
• The 12 rail projects inaugurated by PM Modi include, a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, five electrification projects, one electric locomotive shed and third line project between Barh and Bakhtiyarpur.

Kosi Rail Mega Bridge:

• The length of the rail bridge is 1.9 kilometres and has been constructed at the cost of Rs 516 crore.
• The project is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border.
• The Kosi Rail Mahasetu will cut the otherwise 298-km long journey between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh) on Indo-Nepal border to just 22 km.
• It will connect the Mitihila and Kosi region after a gap of 86-year. The rail link between the region was washed away during the heavy flood and severe Indo-Nepal earthquake in 1934, and thereafter due to the meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this rail link for a long period.