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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has finally prevailed upon the UPA Government. In an unprecedented move, the Rural Development Ministry has agreed to transfer all the pending road building works under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Bihar from the Central agencies to the State Government.
For over last four years, the UPA and the JD(U) Government in Bihar were squabbling over the issue of the road projects with the latter arguing that the Centre was interfering with its matters in order to delay development projects in the Opposition-ruled State.
The Centre had cited quality of works as a major issue for not granting the wish of the State Government.
However, Nitish had a final word in the matter with Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday agreeing to his demand after the Empowered Committee of the PMGSY gave a go-ahead for handing over 409 projects worth Rs 935crore for building 1,827 km of roads, sanctioned earlier to Central agencies, to the State Government.
“All matters relating to the PMGSY in Bihar, especially with regard to the Core network, have now been cleared. I have specially come here to thank him, as he has kept his word on PMGSY issue, after he visited Patna early this month and held detailed discussions on the matter,” Nitish told reporters after meeting Ramesh in Delhi on Friday.
He said the decision has cleared all impediments that were obstructing the sanction of pending road network projects in Bihar. “It would help expedite the construction of roads in the State.”
“Rural roads are a major issue in Bihar and now the big hurdle in laying of rural road network in the state has been cleared,” he said adding Ramesh has already sent a letter of approval of various pending road network projects in the State.
In the letter to Nitish, Ramesh said that the Core network for Bihar had been finally approved.
“409 projects (1,827 km worth Rs 935 crore) which were earlier sanctioned to the Central agencies (NBCC, NPCC, NHPC) and which were un-awarded have been cancelled. The State Government will submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for these roads after which they will be sanctioned,” Ramesh said.
The letter also said missing bridges (15 m and above) on already sanctioned roads will be approved when DPRs are submitted by the State Government while missing bridges (less than 15 m) on such roads will be examined on a case-to-case basis.
For over last four years, the UPA and the JD(U) Government in Bihar were squabbling over the issue of the road projects with the latter arguing that the Centre was interfering with its matters in order to delay development projects in the Opposition-ruled State.
The Centre had cited quality of works as a major issue for not granting the wish of the State Government.
However, Nitish had a final word in the matter with Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday agreeing to his demand after the Empowered Committee of the PMGSY gave a go-ahead for handing over 409 projects worth Rs 935crore for building 1,827 km of roads, sanctioned earlier to Central agencies, to the State Government.
“All matters relating to the PMGSY in Bihar, especially with regard to the Core network, have now been cleared. I have specially come here to thank him, as he has kept his word on PMGSY issue, after he visited Patna early this month and held detailed discussions on the matter,” Nitish told reporters after meeting Ramesh in Delhi on Friday.
He said the decision has cleared all impediments that were obstructing the sanction of pending road network projects in Bihar. “It would help expedite the construction of roads in the State.”
“Rural roads are a major issue in Bihar and now the big hurdle in laying of rural road network in the state has been cleared,” he said adding Ramesh has already sent a letter of approval of various pending road network projects in the State.
In the letter to Nitish, Ramesh said that the Core network for Bihar had been finally approved.
“409 projects (1,827 km worth Rs 935 crore) which were earlier sanctioned to the Central agencies (NBCC, NPCC, NHPC) and which were un-awarded have been cancelled. The State Government will submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for these roads after which they will be sanctioned,” Ramesh said.
The letter also said missing bridges (15 m and above) on already sanctioned roads will be approved when DPRs are submitted by the State Government while missing bridges (less than 15 m) on such roads will be examined on a case-to-case basis.
