Gaya, March 7: The Centre has responded positively to a letter of Gaya MP Hari Manjhi seeking direct road link between south Bihar and north Jharkhand districts.

In his letter to the Union minister of road transport and highways, C.P. Joshi, Manjhi stated that a few districts did not have direct road link, compelling people to take circuitous route.

Joshi, in his reply to the MP’s letter, said the ministry was looking into the matter and it had been referred to the chief engineer (P-3) for necessary action.

The Union government proposed to construct alternative roads in underdeveloped areas of states that could reduce distances, but places in southern Bihar and northern Jharkhand were allegedly not included in the plan.

The MP requested Joshi to get the highways constructed by National Highways Authority of India under the joint-highway-road project. In his letter, the MP said lack of proper roads was hampering development works in these districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. His letter added that direct links would help these sectors grow and generate employment opportunities. It added that direct links would also reduce the pressure on GT Road.

Citing an example, Manjhi said there were no proper roads in Rajauli (Nawada), Fatehpur, Mohanpur, Barachatti, Imamganj, Dumaria (Gaya), Nauhatta (Rohtas), Hunterganj (Chatra district in Jharkhand), Chhatarpur (Palamu), Sudhipar (Garhwa). Social activist Muniram Dubey said once direct roads are constructed, people of south Bihar and north Jharkhand will get shorter routes to Varanasi in UP, Dhanbad and Ranchi in Jharkhand and to Calcutta.