New Delhi/Patna June 22: The Union cabinet today sanctioned Rs 1,742 crore for the repair of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu over the Ganga that has been in a shambles for years.
The Centre also gave in-principle approval to construct a new bridge parallel to the Setu - about 40m upstream - for Rs 6,000 crore.
"The Setu connecting northern and southern parts of Bihar is the lifeline of the state and we are aware of the massive inconvenience the people have been bearing due to poor shape of the bridge," Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said. "We are committed to the promises our Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made to Bihar (ahead of the Assembly elections last year) and coming to the aid of the bridge is part of that commitment."
The proposal that the Centre should entirely take up the repairs had been pending for the last 15 years, sources said.
The announcement comes after an Indian consultant estimated it will take about Rs 1,800 crore and three-and-a-half years to fix the bridge. The Centre had earlier roped in Japan International Corporation Agency, which had estimated a cost of Rs 2,800 crore and seven-and-a-half years to complete the repairs.
Officials in the road ministry said a tender will be floated by July 13 for the project that will see overhaul of the four-lane bridge over the same pillars but with new decks.
"We are hoping that the work will begin by August 15 this year and it will be a big Independence Day gift to the people of Bihar," Gadkari said. "Though the estimated timeframe for the repair works is three-and-a-half years, we will be looking at getting it completed by the end of 2018."
A detailed project report for the new road bridge over the Ganga towards Patna City is likely to be prepared within the next three months.
The state government welcomed the Centre's decision.
Thanking the Prime Minister and Gadkari, deputy chief minister Tejaswi said: "I hope the Centre will (also) fulfil the promise of Rs 55,000 crore for Bihar roads."
Tejaswi, who is also the road construction minister, had met Gadkari twice in the last six months and urged releasing funds for the Setu and other road projects in Bihar.
"I had clearly said that if anything happens to the Setu, the Centre would be responsible," Tejaswi said. "I am glad that finally the Centre has paid attention to my words."
Senior BJP leader and former road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav said the state government cannot claim any credit. "The state had better talk about its own projects like the Ganga Driveway - it started when I was minister. What is the status of Ganga Driveway? The state must answer," he said.
Union telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, a Rajya Sabha member from Bihar, ribbed chief minister Nitish Kumar for skipping a Yoga Day event in Patna yesterday.
"It's okay if one doesn't have interest in yoga but there should at least be interest in development of the state and therefore the Bihar government should cooperate with the Centre in our endeavour to remove the state from the list of backward ones," he said. "Our efforts to set up several projects like software technology parks, electronic manufacturing parks and others have been stuck due to the state government's nonchalant attitude in providing land."
