PM to dedicate historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu to nation

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega-bridge) to the nation through video-conference on September 18. The dedication of the Kosi Rail Mahasetu is a watershed moment in the history of Bihar and the entire region connecting to the North East.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border.

In 1887, a meter gauge link was built in between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh).

During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this Rail link for long period.

The Kosi Mega Bridge line project was sanctioned by Government of India during 2003-04.

The Kosi is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, Nepal and India.

It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal.

From a major confluence of tributaries north of the Chatra Gorge onwards, the Kosi River is also known as Saptakoshi for its seven upper tributaries. The Saptakoshi crosses into northern Bihar, India where it branches into distributaries before joining the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district.