Asian Development Bank (ADB) today said it has approved a $500-million loan to build a bridge across the Ganga in Bihar. “The 9.8-km road bridge in Bihar will be India’s longest river bridge and will provide vital transport link between the northern and southern parts of the State and neighbouring Nepal,” ADB said in a statement.

According to a statement, the new bridge will span both channels of the Ganga and serve as an alternate route to the existing Ganga bridge, which has begun to deteriorate.