Ahead of the much-speculated Cabinet reshuffle, three senior ministers hailing from Bihar went on an overdrive to claim that the Centre has majorly fulfilled special package announced by Prime Ministe
Ahead of the much-speculated Cabinet reshuffle, three senior ministers hailing from Bihar went on an overdrive to claim that the Centre has majorly fulfilled special package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the state. The occasion was the Cabinet approving a proposal worth '1,742 crores four-laning of the Mahatma Gandhi bridge near Patna.
Cabinet ministers Radha Mohan Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan and Ravi Shankar Prasad trooped into a presser of Union minister for road and surface transport Nitin Gadkari to praise the decision of the Cabinet. The ministers claimed that notwithstanding the loss of the NDA in the Bihar state elections, the Centre is committed to fulfil the commitments made by the PM during election time. Mr Paswan also claimed that “people sometimes commit mistakes” and had there been NDA government in the state the situation may have been much better.
The occasion turned into political kickboxing against the Nitish Kumar-led state government.
“The Centre had approved '200 crores for the maintenance of the Mahatma Gandhi bridge, but the state is only minting money while the conditions of the crucial bridge remain dilapidated. The Centre must take over the monitoring of the maintenance works from the state government,” said Mr Paswan in the presence of Mr Gadkari.
Mr Prasad, on his part, said that it is a golden day for Bihar that the much-delayed revival of the crucial bridge which connects north and south Bihar has got Cabinet approval. “I have been asking for land from the Bihar government for setting up software technology park in Bhagalpur, but the state has not yet done its job,” said Mr Prasad, who added that “we are here (in the presser) as Biharis and not ministers”.
Mr Gadkari said that the Central government is undertaking '60,000 crores of projects under the National Highway in Bihar.
“In the whole five years of the NDA government at the Centre, we will be undertaking '1.50 lakh crore of projects. We are fully implementing the special package announced by the Prime Minister for the state,” he said.
The Mahatma Gandhi Sethu project involves rehabilitating 5.57 km long four lane bridge on National Highways -19 to link North and South Bihar, which was constructed in 1972. However, bridge in Patna-Hazipur region has been in a dilapidated condition in absence of proper maintenance.
“I call it a handicapped bridge. Even Mr Nitish Kumar has to resort to taking helicopter several times to visit Hajipur. The Centre gave Rs 200 crore to the state for the maintenance. Where that money has gone,” asked Mr Prasad.
Mr Gadkari said that now after Cabinet nod the tenders will be received by July 13 and work will commence on August 15. He stated that the works will be completed in two and a half years.
