Baalu Discusses Road Development Initiatives In The State Of Bihar

August 4, 2006

The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Thiru T. R. Baalu discussed the initiatives of the Central Government on the Road Sector Development in Bihar with the Central Ministries and Members of Parliament belonging to the State here today. The senior officials from the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), State Chief Engineer and Team Leaders of various Projects briefed the participants on the progress of several projects in the State.

The status and pace of implementation of various projects under Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), East-West Corridor and Projects under NHDP Phase III alongwith the special Projects were discussed threadbare. The development of all other National Highways in Bihar being improved through the State National Highway Wing was also deliberated upon.

The participating Ministers and MPs brought out the problematic issues pertaining to their respective areas and proposed various new projects for sanction under Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme.

Thiru Baalu asked the Ministry and the NHAI officials to execute the road sector projects in Bihar in a time bound manner. He asked the officials to take into account the views expressed by the Central Ministers and Members of Parliament from Bihar while initiating action for sanction of new projects under various central schemes of the Ministry.

The Officials informed that out of 206 kms of GQ falling in Bihar , 190 kms is already complete as on 31st July this year while the balance 16 kms is expected to be completed by the year end. It was also brought out that four contract packages have already been awarded for the stretches of the 160 kms of East West Corridor. The total cost of this Corridor would be Rs.1251 crore. The participants were also informed that nine contract packages on the 310 km long NH-57 Muzzafarpur-Darbhanga Purnia Section have already been awarded.

As regard to NHDP Phase III, the participants were informed that four laning of 890 kms in Bihar is being taken up at a cost of Rs.6495 crore on either BOT – Toll (Build Operate Transfer) or BOT – Annuity basis.

Referring to the problems being faced by the implementing agencies in the State, it was pointed out that excessive rain fall and floods, lack of response to tenders, peculiar soil quality, low traffic count and high construction cost are some of the impediments.

The meeting was attended by a large numbers of MPs from the State cutting across the party lines including the Central Ministers namely, Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Smt. Kanti Singh and Dr. Shakeel Ahmed.