The more than three-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi bridge over the Ganga river in Patna will be rebuilt at a cost of Rs 1,742 crore even as two Union Ministers sought strict monitoring of project to check siphoning of funds by JD(U)-led state government.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved rehabilitation of four-lane 5.575-km long Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna at an estimated cost of Rs 1,742 crore.
Announcing the decision, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said this proposal to revamp the bridge, which is an important link between north and south Bihar, was pending for last 15 years and rehabilitation would help ease traffic woes.
The proposal was also an important part of Bihar package earlier announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.
The work on the bridge is expected to start on August 15.
Soon after the announcement, two Union Ministers hailing from the state -- Ram Vilas Paswan and Ravi Shankar Prasad, met Road Minister Nitin Gadkari and demanded strict monitoring of this project to prevent "minting of money by the state" under the garb of maintenance of the bridge.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, who is also from Bihar, also met Gadkari and hailed the decision.
The bridge, which was constructed in 1980s in Patna- Hazipur region, is currently in a dilapidated condition in absence of proper maintenance.
"The bridge has become a source of minting money for the Bihar government. The Centre has alloted Rs 200 crore for its maintenance but nothing happened. Bihar government is taking commission in the name of maintenance. I fear same would continue now," Paswan said urging Gadkari to take control of the monitoring of the project.
Echoing views, Prasad said, "I call it a 'handicapped' bridge. Even Nitish Kumar (Bihar Chief Minister) has to resort to taking helicopter several times to visit Hajipur."
"Rs 200 crore has been given to the state for maintenance. Where that money has gone?," asked Prasad.
Gadkari said that now after Cabinet nod the tenders will be received by July 13 and work will commence on August 15.
The bridge will be constructed after dismantling the damaged pre-stressed cantilever arms superstructure and subsequent re-decking by steel truss.
"We are glad that the Cabinet has approved this proposal and it is scheduled for completion in 3.5 years but we will try to build it in 2.5 years. We have also roped in IIT Roorkee," Gadkari said.
He said that a detailed project report for another Rs 6,000 crore parallel bridge will be ready within three months and the work on the project is likely by December.
Gadkari said previously the government has roped in JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to study whether the bridge can be revamped with the use of Japanese technology for which they had come out with a seven year plan entailing Rs 2,800 crore cost including Rs 2,200 crore civil cost.
However, to expedite it another consultant was appointed which proposed to build it at a cost of Rs 1,742 crore including the civil construction cost of Rs 1,355 crore.
Both Paswan and Prasad said that poor condition of the bridge was causing severe problems to citizens of Bihar and the condition was such that many a time pregnant women delivered babies on the way.
They said that reaching Patna is easier from Delhi but going to Hajipur from Patna via the bridge is a nightmare.
The Ministers said that despite people of Bihar not voting NDA to power in the state, the centre is committed to fulfil the package announced by the Prime Minister.
The rehabilitation of the bridge would help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in the state besides reducing time and cost of travel, particularly for heavy traffic plying between North and South Bihar.
Trade with Nepal and Bhutan is also flowing through this route. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made efforts to rehabilitate this bridge in the last 15 years but the efforts were not successful, an official statement said.
