Centre’s nod to enhanced cost for road-cum-rail bridge over Ganga

The Centre on Wednesday gave its nod to an enhanced cost estimate for construction of a rail-cum-road bridge over river Ganga in Bihar with Rs 2774 crore, asserting that it stands committed to the state’s development despite BJP’s rout in assemly polls there.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval for revised cost estimate amounting to Rs 2774 crore with Railway and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways sharing Rs 1247 crore Rs 1527 crore of it respectively.

The proposal also takes note of the possibility that the cost of land for road approaches may increase in future as the government of Bihar has “not yet initiated” acquisition proceedings for construction of the 14 kilomete-long rail-cum- road bridge across river Ganga at Munger. The railway line part of this project is likely to completed during the current financial year. Munger, Khagaria, Saharsa, Bhagalpur districts of Bihar will be benefitted through this project.