Patna: The Centre sanctioned Rs 457.36 crore for Bihar on Friday, a day after Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari blamed the state government for delay in the acquisition of land for road projects in the state.

"A fund of Rs 457.366 crore has been sanctioned by Nitin Gadkari ji under the central road fund for the three road projects in Bihar," road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav told The Telegraph over phone. "The projects would be completed in 24 months. I have received the letter sanctioning the fund today."

Earlier, in the morning, Nand Kishore had reacted to Gadkari's comment saying that the Union minister was just flagging a problem.

"Gadkari ji has not levelled any allegation against the Bihar government, he has just raised the problem of land acquisition and we are confident of solving the issue. It is not an easy task to acquire land in Bihar and we are working hard on this front," Nand Kishore had remarked.

The three projects for which the fund has been sanctioned includes connecting Rohtas district with Sasaram on the Grand Trunk Road by making a 5.28 km stretch a four lane one at a cost of Rs 57 .037 crore.

The other projects including making a 16.3km stretch of the Sadikpur-Pabhera-Masaurhi state highway a four-lane one at a cost of Rs 175.351 crore. On the same road, another stretch, from the 16km mark to 38.20km, will be made a four-lane one for Rs 224.977 crore. "The Centre had divided the Sadikpur-Pabhera-Masaurhi road project in two parts. I am sure that we will able to complete the project in the stipulated time," Nand Kishore said.

In the funds sanction letter, the Centre has asked Bihar to accord technical and financial sanction of the project and award the work within four months from the date of receipt of the sanction.

The letter clearly says that any excess over 10 per cent of the amount administratively approved will have to be arranged by the state government from its own resources and no revised estimate will be considered in the scheme.

Asked about the benefit from the road projects, Nand Kishore said: "The widening will lead to better connectivity in south Bihar on the Grand Trunk Road and it will also help central Bihar in the coming days. The four-lane Sadikpur road will make the journey smooth from Agamkuan to Masaurhi as the interstate bus stand is coming up at Bairiya near Pahari."

At present there are often huge traffic jams from the Pahari area to Masaurhi, which the road widening is expected to solve.

In April, Nand Kishore had gone to Delhi to meet Gadkari and discussed sanction of funds for road projects. "We have got quick response, which shows that the double engine government in Bihar is dedicated towards development," Nand Kishore stressed.