Patna, Feb. 28: The Bihar government, having failed to get a positive response from the Centre on the funds required to undertake the comprehensive restoration of Mahatma Gandhi Setu, is thinking of asking the Centre to allow it to start the work in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The state road construction department minister Nand Kishore Yadav told The Telegraph: “Keeping the bridge in good shape is our prime concern. If the Centre has problems in releasing the funds, it should allow us to take up the work under PPP mode. There are several agencies willing to invest in this project and collect the money through toll.”

Yadav’s concern is understandable — the 5.575km-long bridge connects north Bihar with the state capital, Patna. The superstructure of the bridge, which has been constructed using the pre-stressing technology, has developed problems, threatening its usage. For this, part of the bridge’s western lane has been closed and heavy loaded vehicles have been restricted from operating on the bridge.

Yadav said he would soon write to the Centre, urging it to give the no-objection certificate for commencing the work under the PPP mode.

The state had made a similar request to the Centre in June 2008 too, but it was refused. This time, the request was made on the basis of the report of IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, which said that raising funds through PPP mode for repairing the bridge was viable.

The minister said that the Centre is forcing the state to think in these terms. “The state government sent a proposal to the Union ministry of road transport and highways in September 2010 seeking a fund of Rs 167.13 crore for comprehensive restoration of the bridge. But the Centre has not bothered to release the fund. The only thing the Centre did in the meantime was seek a clarification on the proposal submitted. The point was explained in November last year,” Yadav said. He added if the Centre was not willing to release the funds, it should allow the state government to use the PPP mode to start work at the earliest.

Yadav said, according to the information available with them, the Centre has sent the proposal to another consultant.

An experienced practising civil engineer, V.K. Raina, whose services were roped in after due consultation with the Centre, had inspected the bridge in June 2010.