It's a double bonanza for Bihar. The Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) is extending loan for widening and upgrading two major highways in the Buddhist circuit, one from Patna to Dobhi via Gaya and another from Bodh Gaya to Biharsharif via Rajgir and Nalanda. The agreement for the later one is scheduled to be signed on Tuesday next in New Delhi between JICA and Bihar government.
Road construction department (RCD) secretary Pratyaya Amrit told TOI on Saturday that the work on the 95km long four-lane Bodh Gaya-Hisua-Rajgir-Nalanda-Biharsharif highway will be executed by Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC) and the agreement between JICA and BSRDC will be singed on February 26. The project will involve an expenditure of Rs1,640.68 crore, said Amrit who is also the BSRDC chairman.
He hoped the Union cabinet would approve the project within a month and tender would be floated thereafter. "The project will have to be completed in 42 months and, hopefully, the work would commence in 2013-14," he added.
The JICA on Friday entered into an agreement with the Union government for granting a loan of Rs 1,350 crore for the 127km long four-lane Patna-Gaya-Dobhi national highway-83. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will execute this project.
RCD minister Nand Kishore Yadav said the present highway will be widened with some alterations and diversions. The construction will start from Sipara in Patna and pass through Punpun and Masaurhi. "Bridges over railway crossings, underpass and diversions will be constructed," said Yadav.
He further said Sipara is going to be a melting point for three roads. The two other roads are Buxar-Ara-Patna and Gaya-Patna-Bakhtiarpur, he added.
Both Yadav and Amrit said the state government had been pressing for conversion of Patna-Gaya national highway 83 and Bodh Gaya-Biharsharif national highways 82 into of four lanes for several years and chief minister Nitish Kumar had personally took up the matter with the Centre.
Since both the highways fall under the Buddhist circuit, it would attract foreign tourists. The number of foreign tourists visiting the state has increased manifold during the past few years. One out of every six foreign tourists in India comes to Bihar. Their number increased to over nine lakh in 2012. "The widening of these national highways will definitely give a major boost to the tourism industry," said Yadav.
Road construction department (RCD) secretary Pratyaya Amrit told TOI on Saturday that the work on the 95km long four-lane Bodh Gaya-Hisua-Rajgir-Nalanda-Biharsharif highway will be executed by Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC) and the agreement between JICA and BSRDC will be singed on February 26. The project will involve an expenditure of Rs1,640.68 crore, said Amrit who is also the BSRDC chairman.
He hoped the Union cabinet would approve the project within a month and tender would be floated thereafter. "The project will have to be completed in 42 months and, hopefully, the work would commence in 2013-14," he added.
The JICA on Friday entered into an agreement with the Union government for granting a loan of Rs 1,350 crore for the 127km long four-lane Patna-Gaya-Dobhi national highway-83. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will execute this project.
RCD minister Nand Kishore Yadav said the present highway will be widened with some alterations and diversions. The construction will start from Sipara in Patna and pass through Punpun and Masaurhi. "Bridges over railway crossings, underpass and diversions will be constructed," said Yadav.
He further said Sipara is going to be a melting point for three roads. The two other roads are Buxar-Ara-Patna and Gaya-Patna-Bakhtiarpur, he added.
Both Yadav and Amrit said the state government had been pressing for conversion of Patna-Gaya national highway 83 and Bodh Gaya-Biharsharif national highways 82 into of four lanes for several years and chief minister Nitish Kumar had personally took up the matter with the Centre.
Since both the highways fall under the Buddhist circuit, it would attract foreign tourists. The number of foreign tourists visiting the state has increased manifold during the past few years. One out of every six foreign tourists in India comes to Bihar. Their number increased to over nine lakh in 2012. "The widening of these national highways will definitely give a major boost to the tourism industry," said Yadav.
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