The nearly 56-year-old Tuntuniya Railway Overbridge in Samastipur, Bihar, has been officially closed to all traffic, including pedestrians, to facilitate urgent structural repairs. The bridge was declared structurally vulnerable due to severely deteriorated expansion joints that require immediate replacement. The closure period is effective from July 5, 2026, to August 15, 2026, with round-the-clock repair efforts currently underway to ensure the structure is restored as quickly as possible.
Key details regarding the closure include:
- Closure duration: July 5, 2026, to August 15, 2026.
- Reason: Replacement of deteriorated expansion joints.
- Traffic management: Implementation of one-way systems and barricades on alternative routes.
- RPF deployment: Additional security at seven railway level crossings including 1A, 50B, 50C, 50D, 53A, 54, and Ateeran Chowk.
Traffic Management and Administrative Oversight
Sadar SDO Dilip Kumar has coordinated with railway authorities and Traffic DSP Ashish Raj to manage the resulting gridlock. With the bridge completely off-limits, traffic has been diverted to nearby routes, causing significant congestion in Samastipur town. To maintain order, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has deployed additional personnel to monitor high-pressure areas, particularly the Ateeran Chowk crossing, to prevent complete gridlock during the construction phase.
Ongoing Infrastructure and Network Updates
This maintenance work is part of a broader infrastructure push within the Samastipur Division. In parallel, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has been awarded a ₹358.97 crore contract for the doubling of the Sitamarhi-Raxaul section, a project expected to be completed within 1,095 days. Railway passengers are advised to stay updated on travel plans, as several train services in the division faced cancellations and route changes between July 16 and July 21, 2026, due to separate commissioning works being conducted across the network. Commuters are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and follow local traffic diversions to avoid delays.