Patna, Feb. 8: The World Bank has agreed to provide funds for the repair of four national highways, measuring 536km, which pass through Bihar. A central government’s letter informing this latest development was delivered to the state today.
The national highways which would be repaired using the World Bank funds are 177km-long NH-104 (Sheohar-Sitamarhi-Jainagar-Harhaia), 136km-long NH-106 (Bihpur-Birpur), 154km-long NH-98 (Anisabad-Aurangabad-Hariharnagar) and 69km-long NH-30A (Fatuha-Harnaut-Barh).
The amount of World Bank aid to be provided for road repair would be known only after the formulation of a detailed project report (DPR). The work on the report formulation would start soon, informed Bihar road construction department minister Nand Kishore Yadav.
“The DPR has to be readied by the end of this year and while formulating the document, it would be kept in mind that the area of land, which would have to be acquired, is kept to the minimum level,” said the minister, adding that the actual construction work on these roads would start in 2012.
The World Bank aid in the road sector is coming to Bihar under the National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project (NHIIP) under which the financial body has agreed to provide funds to India for restoration of 12 national highways in the country, measuring 1192.5km. Out of the total length of roads to be covered under the project, around half falls in Bihar.
Expressing happiness over the selection of four national highways under NHIIP, Yadav told The Telegraph: “All these roads were notified as national highways around nine years back but the Centre never provided the funds required for the renovation of these stretches to meet the norms of national highways. The aid from the World Bank would help in meeting the norms.”
The state government has spent funds from its own resources for repairing these national highways. This would be the first time that funds from other sources would be used for repairing these stretches. After renovation, all these roads would become two-lane, having a width of seven metres.
There are certain works which the state government would have to carry out, as required in the conditions attached with the funds provided by the World Bank. These works are related to road management, road safety and roadside safety.
“We would happily meet these conditions as renovation of these national highways have been a long-pending demand of the state government,” Yadav said.
