Centre sanctions Rs 457 crore for two roads

PATNA: Ministry of road, transport and highways has sanctioned Rs457.36 crore under Central Road Funds for four-laning of Pahadi to Masaurhi and Sasaram to GT Road in Bihar, state road construction minister Nand Kishor Yadav said on Friday. The corresponding works will be completed in 24 months, he added.
“Union minister Nitin Gadkari sent an approval letter for the two projects today.It will improve the connectivity to GT road in south Bihar as well as augment the development in central parts of the state,” Nand Kishor said.
He said Rs57.037 crore is for four-laning of 5.5km-long Suara-Kumhu road, which connects GT Road. “The four-laning of 38km-long Pahadi-Masaurhi road has been divided into two parts. Funds to the tune of Rs175.351 crore have been sanctioned for four-laning of the first 16km of Sadikpur-Pabhera-Masaurhi road and Rs224.977 crore for four-laning of the remaining 22km of the road,” he said.
Nand Kishor said the Sadikpur-Pabhera-Masaurhi road would also provide connectivity to the proposed interstate bus terminal at Bairiya in Patna. He said talks on these projects were held with Gadkari around two months ago. “The sanction of funds for the projects within two months shows how development is expedited due to double-engine government of NDA at the Centre and in Bihar,” he said.
The funds, however, have been sanctioned with several stipulations, including cost-escalation not permissible beyond 10% of the approved cost. Any excess beyond 10% of the approved cost is to be met by the state government. Also, the state government is required to submit quarterly utilization certificate for the funds and progress in the works.