The final phase of construction of the Nashipur railway bridge in Murshidabad commenced last week, more than four years after it was stalled for the second time owing to a land dispute.

The project was stalled after local landowners refused to part with seven acres on the west bank of the Bhagirathi river.

The 785m-long bridge, which was initially sanctioned in 2000 by then railway minister Mamata Banerjee, connects Azimganj railway station on the west bank of the river with Murshidabad station on the east.

The last phase of work that started last week includes the completion of 462m of a westbound train line that had been left incomplete owing to the government’s inability to acquire 7.5 acres of private land.

Sources said the job to install the bridge will be completed by March 31.

“We aim to have trains running on the bridge within six months. The line will be laid by March 31, and electrification will be done after that,” said assistant engineer (construction) Eastern Railways, Bidyut Kumar Das.

The Railway Board had sent the Murshidabad district administration a formal communication instructing that the remaining work would have to be completed between November 1 this year and March 31, 2023.