Patna: Decks have been cleared for construction of six state highways after the Central government agreed to the Bihar government’s proposal to back its loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a guarantor.
The state highways (SHs) to be built are Banganga-Bindas, Ara-Sahar, Chapra-Guthni, Dhoreya-Asarganj, Sitamarhi-Benipatti and Hathauri-Aurai roads. These road projects, envisaging strengthening of roads in 10-metre width with paved shoulders, will be executed at the cost of ₹3580 crore. Over a dozen districts will be benefitted from the project.
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Officials of the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL), which is the executing agency of the road construction department (RCD), said that the detailed project reports (DPRs) of the project was pending for clearance for the last one-and-a-half years. The ADB had in principle agreed to fund the project, but it was waiting for the Central government’s concurrence as guarantor for the loan.
Officials said that the deal for loan was finalised during the latest round meetings of the officials of the Centre, BSRDC and the ADB held between April 11-18. However, final agreement was granted last week by the Central government. “The projects got its clearance from the centre as soon as the NDA government formed there. These roads will be built by taking a loan of $200 million from ADB. The process of making the final DPR of these selected roads and acquiring about 73.71 hectares of land is being started,” said a BSRDC officer.
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Officials said that work on these roads might begin next year, as it still required a lot of formalities such as procurement of loan, appointment of qualified agencies and acquisition of land for the projects. Total length of all road projects is 277 km.
Banganga-Jethian-Gehlor-Bindus Road (41.26km): It will reduced distance from Gaya to Rajgir by 10 km. The road will pass beside the road built by Dashrath Manjhi on the side.
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Ara-Ekouna-Khaira-Sahar Road (32.26km): Traffic will be smooth in Naxal-affected areas
Chapra-Manjhi-Darouli-Guthni Road (72.18km): It will make easier to travel from Chapra to Mau, Deoria, Gorakhpur in UP.
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Dhoraiya-English Mor-Asarganj Road (58.47km): It will make traffic smooth in Munger-Bhagalpur-Banka-Jamui districts. The region will develop.
Sitamarhi-Pupri-Benipatti Road (51.12km): It will help increased economic activities of Sitamarhi and Madhubani districts.
Hathaudi-Aurai Road (21.30km): Construction of bridges on the road in Bagmati’s flood-affected area of Muzaffarpur will enable traffic throughout the year.
