Patna, Feb. 7: Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav met railway minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi on Tuesday and sought his intervention to expedite construction of 53 road over-bridges (ROBs).
Tejashwi was scheduled to meet Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari, too, but the meeting was postponed by a day, as Gadkari was not in New Delhi. State road construction secretary Pankaj Kumar was present during the meeting with Prabhu.
The state government pointed out that it had given its nod for construction of the 53 ROBs twice during 2010-16. The ROBs are to be constructed on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis. But the railways is yet to submit a detailed project report or specify approach road. Bihar had also sought approval of 2 ROBs in Hajipur and four in Chhapra. The railways recently agreed to contribute 50% of the cost of four ROBs.
It was pointed out that Bihar had conveyed its consent for selecting Indian Railway Construction Company (Ircon) as the sole agency to execute all ROBs, but Ircon wants a surcharge of 9 per cent while the state's norm is to give 5 per cent. The state suggested that either the railways bear the surcharge above of 5 per cent or let Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam build it at 5 per cent surcharge. The state was open to any suggestion but did not receive any response in 10 months. Tejashwi stressed that the railways convey its decision on which organisation would be the execution agency - Ircon, CAO (Construction) or Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam.
Also, the state would have no objection should the railways decide to give the work to Ircon/CAO (Construction). A decision should be conveyed so that the state government can obtain the Cabinet's approval. The railway minister reportedly assured Tejashwi he would look into the matter.
Tejashwi also met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) country head Takema Sakamoto for funding of infrastructure projects in Bihar.
The construction of 53 ROBs had kicked up a political row few months ago when former deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that the state government was stalling it and threatened not to initiate any step until railways approved construction of ROBs in Hajipur and Chhapra. Tejashwi had denied the charge.
