PATNA: Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday gave approval for construction of a four-lane bridge parallel to JP Setu over the Ganga along Patna.
Approval was also given for construction of a 4-km-long six-lane road between Koilwar and Bihta and declaring Patna-Areraj road as National Highway (NH).
The decisions were taken in a meeting between Gadkari and state road construction minister Nitin Nabin in New Delhi.
A decision was also taken to initiate the bidding process for construction of Amas (Aurangabad)-Darbhanga Expressway to connect north and south Bihar.
Officials said land acquisition for the 189-km-long expressway is in advanced stages and construction works can commence after the monsoon season, depending upon the progress in the bidding stage.
“Both our proposals related to the construction of a bridge parallel to JP Setu and declaring the Patna-Areraj highway via Vaishali as NH have been approved.
Assurance has also been given for removal of hurdles in the execution of several other projects of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Bihar,” Nabin said.
“Projects entailing estimated outlay of Rs1 lakh crore are being executed by the Centre in Bihar,” Nabin said.
Sources said the bridge parallel to JP Setu, which is a rail-cum-road bridge, comes under a special package of Rs1.56 crore announced by PM Narendra Modi prior to the 2015 state assembly elections.
Nabin told Gadkari that seven projects from the PM’s special package are ready for inauguration and foundation laying.
With regard to the construction of a six-lane road between Koilwar and Bihta, Nabin said: “It will help in decongesting the vehicular movement and frequent snarls on this stretch.
It will also provide smooth vehicular access to the upcoming international airport at Bihta.” Officials said the Koilwar-Bihta road will be constructed by the NHAI, for which a separate bidding process will be initiated soon.
With regard to declaration of Patna-Arereaj highway as NH, officials said it goes from Patna to Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur and further to Kesaria and Areraj, both in East Champaran.