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(Bihar Times) Government of Bihar and different political parties having stake in state should take up the following infrastructure projects for inclusion in the priority list of state as well as central government.
Road Sector (apart from that already planned by state government):
- Upgradation of NH106 to Four lane
- Four Lane NH incorporation Portion of NH 28A and NH 107 as Hajipur-Samastipur- Kusheshwarsthan-Mahishi-Saharsa-Madhepura_Purnia ( including missing link Samstipur-Saharsha)
- Four Lane NH incorporation Portion of NH 28 and NH 105 as Barauni-Samastipur- Darbhanga-Madhubani-Jainagar ( including missing link Samstipur-Darbhanga)
- Four Lane NH between Lakhisarai-Jamui-Jhajha-Deoghar
- Four Lane State Highway/ National Highway between Hajipur and Bachhwara
- Upgradation of balance length of NH80 to four lanes, as also being pursued by Jharkhand government.
Bridges (rail cum road bridges):
- Ara-Dorganj (Chapra), road bridge is already planned
- Bakhatiyarpur-Patori(Samastipur), road bridge is already planned
- Manihari-Sahibganj, as also being pursued by Jharkhand
- Kusheshwarthan-Mahishi, road bridge already planned
Gas Grid & City Piped Gas:
- Expeditious completion of Jagdishpur-Gaya-Haldia gas line with spur linking to Barauni.
- Extending Barauni link to connect to North east
- Extending Gas Grid towards Muzaffarpur-Raxaul-Kathmandu
- Link up Patna, Chapara, Biharsharief, Arrah, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Katihar apart from Gaya, Barauni and Muzaffarpur, Motihari and other cities, which will fall in route to suggested gas grid, for City Piped Gas Distribution.
North-South Eastern Infrastructure Corridor (Dedicated High Speed Railine cum Expressway cum Gas Grid) between Kathmandu to Paradip: Already government of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and Nepal are working disjointedly towards such an objective. However, aforesaid disjoint work may result in future bottlenecks and also in deviation from the most optimal plan. It would be better if the various stakeholders do co-ordinate their action and reconcile their respective plans with each other. Execution can still be carried out by the respective stakeholders to expedite the work or preferably through a central government sponsored SPV on a much bigger scale.
These infrastructure projects are quite crucial for the state' development. Definitive action on these is highly desirable if government of Bihar wants to do the catching up with rest of India.
The Industrial slowdown will force central government in making mega infrastructural spending now. It would be wise on part of the state government to perforce its infrastructure projects, with all necessary groundwork in tandem, on the central governments agenda at this opportune moment. Also it should be expected that political entities in the state would also take up position on these projects and also other crucial infrastructure projects in their manifestos for coming general election.
Developing waterways has not figured out in any plan, which is chepest mode of transport inspite of Bihar having perennial river like Ganga,
Anil Kumar Sinha
For the road sector, I would like to submit the inclusion of Darbhanga-Madhavapur via Kamtaul-Vasaith which goes in almost straight line and cuts the distance to Nepal drastically from Patna. Darbhanga is already part of the National Highway network.This road is of strategic importance as it can connect the state capital to Nepal (Madhwapur is the bordering block headquarters with Matihani in Nepal). I learn that this has already been declared a national highway. The road can be potentially used to bring in orbit new tourist destinations like Ahilya Sthan near Kamtual (associated with the legend of Ram and Ahylya) as well as Durga Sthan (Uchhaith, associated with the great poet Kalidasa). Moreover, this road can act as connector to the national highway on the borders of north Bihar districts of Madhubani and Sitamarhi and would be of great help in the movement of BSF, and other officials entrusted with anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics operations.
Assistant Professor
Public Policy and Management Group
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
e mail: mt@iimcal.ac.in
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