Nitish Kumar reviews bridge construction work

NAUGACHIA/ KHAGARIA: CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday reviewed the construction of Vijay ghat bridge across river Kosi, which will connect Bhagalpur via Naugachia to northern districts like Madhepura and others, and directed the officials complete it by January 14, 2014.

The construction of the ambitious 1.84-km-long bridge on the Kosi with 10.87 km of four-lane approach road at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 220 crore was started in July 2010.

The CM directed the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam (BRPNN) engineers and officials to expedite the work, saying the bridge will put the region on the path of development.

The CM also laid the foundation stone of a 500-meter-long RCC bridge over Bagmati river near Sonemanki ghat under Alouli block in Khagaria district, 8 km from the district headquarters. The bridge will be constructed at a cost of Rs 46.28 crore and completed within two and half years.

The Vijay ghat bridge is coming up on the northern end of Bhagalpur and will act as connecting link of national highways (NHs) 80 and 31 respectively via Vikramshila bridge across the Ganga. After the completion of the bridge, the distance between Bhagalpur and Madhepura as well as other districts of north Bihar would be reduced considerably.

Addressing an impressive gathering during the foundation laying of the RCC bridge at Khagaria, Nitish said his priority, after coming to power in November 2005, was to improve the law and order situation in the state to instill confidence among the common masses. People can witness development in each and every sphere of life be it education, roads, health care, better law and order, power scenario and good governance, he said, adding the pace of development, however, has to be accelerated.

Education minister P K Sahi, industry minister Renu Kushwaha, JD (U) MP Dinesh Chandra Yadav, Pannalal Singh Patel, Poonam Yadav and Ramchandra Sada, JD (U) MLAs, were also present on the occasion.

TOI, Patna

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