'Work on India's largest rail bridge to be completed by 2012'

Union Minister of State for Railways E Ahamed has inspected the progress of construction of India's largest rail bridge near here, connecting Patna and Sonepur, and directed officials to complete the work by December 2012.

The 4556-metre road-cum-rail bridge over river Ganga is estimated to cost Rs 1366 crore, Ahamed said, after visiting the site yesterday with top officials of the East Central Railways.

ECR's General Manager Dipak Krishna, Chief administrative Officer Madhuresh Kumar, Division Railway Manager (Danapur) Gyan Prakash, accompanied Ahamed during the inspection.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work, a statement issued by the ECR said.

The project was taken up when Nitish Kumar was the railway minister and the work started four years ago.

Meanwhile, Ahamed also inspected the Patna junction and directed the authorities to ensure cleanliness and quality food for passengers.

He said he had urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take steps to ensure safety of passengers and property of railways in Bihar and check cases of drugging, loot and theft and other crime on running trains.