Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhury lights a lamp to inaugurate the function at Patel Maidan in Samastipur on Monday. Picture by Mohan Mahato

Samastipur, Nov. 14: Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhury today said Samastipur was the first district in the state where a mega project to construct a bridge over river Ganga has been started. It would connect Tajpur with Bakhtiyarpur and would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore.

Chaudhury announced this at the inauguration ceremony of a two-day function organised by the district administration to celebrate Samastipur’s foundation day. He lit the inaugural lamp at Patel Maidan to start the 39th foundation day celebrations.

Chaudhury said: “The state government has decided to celebrate the foundation day of the district. The administration has been directed to invite every section of society to attend the meet. This would boost development in the state.”

A slew of programmes have been scheduled as part of the celebrations. It began at 6 in the morning with a marathon “Run for Samastipur”. A source said the district administration had tried to include various aspects of art, culture, education and health in the programmes to ensure all-round participation. With a view to promote girls’ empowerment, a cycle race has been organised.

Quiz and painting competitions were also organi- sed today.

The district administration has planned several cultural programmes. Popular singers like Mita Pandit, Kamal Sawari, Pratibha Singh Baghel and Mohit Lalbani will perform tomorrow.

Programme to encourage development in the district have also been included. District magistrate Kundan Kumar said: “This is probably the first time when credit has been made available to a number of self-help groups by several nationalised banks. There are around 315 self-help groups that are taking part in the function. They will be able to avail of credit at the fair at Patel Maidan today.”

Sources said efforts have been made to ensure that residents of villages are not left out. A development fair has been organised by the rural development department.

Around seven committees on various subjects have been formed to ensure equal representation from all sections of the society. Members of these committees include as academics, journalists, social activists, members of non-government organisations and administrative officers. “These committees have come up with a list of programmes to be included on the occasion of district foundation day,” district public relations officer Dilip Kumar Deo said.

Sources said the district administration aimed at focusing on the features of the district through this programme so that tourist could be attracted to various places such as Khudeshwar Asthan, Thaneswar Asthan, Bidyapatidham and Pandavdih. The agricultural wealth of the district would also be on display at the programme.