New Delhi, June 22 (IANS): The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the rehabilitation of four-lane Mahatma Gandhi Setu on Ganga River in Bihar, said an official statement.

The rehabilitation of four-lane 5.575 km long Mahatma Gandhi Setu at National Highway No.19 will be done at Patna in Bihar, the statement said.

"The bridge will be constructed after dismantling the damaged pre-stressed cantilever arms superstructure and subsequent re-decking by steel truss," the statement said.

The project will be in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. The cost is estimated to be Rs 1,742.01 crore.

According to the government, the project is covered in the region of Patna-Hazipur connecting North and South Bihar.

"It will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in the state besides reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between North and South Bihar. The rehabilitation of Mahatma Gandhi Setu will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region," said the statement.