Centre implementing Rs 1.65 lakh cr package for Bihar; will not renege on promise despite election debacle, says BJP

New Delhi: In a bid to end uncertainty over the implementation of Rs 1.65 lakh crore package for Bihar, the Centre has said that it is being implemented as it is for the people of the state and not for any particular government. The projects under the Bihar package are at different stages of implementation and they are being monitored on regular basis, it said. At a meeting on Monday, Union Ministers including Suresh Prabhu (Railways), Dharmendra Pradhan (Oil & Gas) and Piyush Goyal (Power) assured BJP state representatives including Sushil Kumar Modi, Prem Kumar and Mangal Pandey on the issue. [caption id=“attachment_2580544” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sushil Kumar Modi. Image courtesy IBNLive[/caption] The representatives met over half a dozen union ministers and asked them to monitor all these projects on monthly basis for speedy implementations. “The prime minister had announced a package of Rs 1.65 lakh crore for Bihar. We are meeting with different union ministers to assess the progress over the announced package. All of them have assured that this package is for Bihar and not for a particular government,” Leader of Opposition, Bihar Legislative Council, Sushil Kumar Modi told PTI. BJP, which rules at the Centre, was unable to form the government in Bihar following the state elections, raising concerns in certain quarter over the package. “There was a confusion that if the government will not change in Bihar then what would happen (to the package). All ministers told us that the prime minister has given package for the people of Bihar. We are implementing this package. It at different stages in all ministries.” Modi further said, “Two mega bridges are being constructed on the Ganga river. One is at Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge in Patna and second such bridge is in Munger. Prabhu has told us that these bridge would be ready in a month’s time and would be opened by February end.” Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone of these two bridges in 2003. But these could not be completed during the decade-long UPA regime. Another project is the Mahatama Gandhi Setu on the river Ganga, connecting North Bihar, and it is to be implemented properly. Modi said, “The Road Ministry has approved Rs 1,800 crore for repair of this bridge. Centre will allocate funds and the Bihar government will carry out repair work.” The road projects are a big component in Bihar package. A new bridge on the Ganga costing Rs 5,000 crore will be built. It will be near Gandhi setu. “The project is at Detailed Project Report stage. Besides there will be another six lane bridge on Ganga river in Begusarai,” Modi said. About the power sector in Bihar, he said that the second 660 MW unit of Phase-II of Barh project will be in operation in February; NTPC Ltd is in the final stage of finalising developer for first phase of the project. Modi said: “Power minister has told us the one Ultra Mega Power Project of 4,000 MW in Banka will soon be auctioned out of which 50 percent power will be given to Bihar. During NDA regime Bihar is getting additional 1,000 MW from Centre.” He added, “Oil minister told us that the work is in progress on Jagdishpur–Haldia gas pipeline. Besides there are plans to increase refining capacity of Baruni refinery to nine million tonnes from existing six million tonnes. There is also a plan for a petrochemical complex there.” PTI