JD(U), BJP trade charges in Bihar Assembly

Ruling JD(U) and Opposition BJP today traded charges over poor upkeep of Mahatama Gandhi Setu over river Ganga considered as gateway to North Bihar from state capital which is witnessing heavy traffic flow.
After BJP member Arun Shankar Prasad raised the matter during zero hour, Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav charged the state government with "indulging in politics" over the issue by not cooperating with the Centre.
This despite Centre's having volunteered to help it rehabilitate the 6-km long bridge over the river connecting Patna with Hajipur in Vaishali district, Yadav said.
He said that different survey reports including one by JICA of Japan have established that there was no fault in pillars of the bridge but the entire superstructure has to be changed.

He said though earlier the state government had chalked out a proposal to built a bridge between Tazpur to Vidhupur and make Road-cum-Railway bridge at Digha operational by building approach road, the state has so far failed to acquire land for the same.
Road Construction Department minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan alleged negligence by the Centre and accused BJP of trying to derive political mileage over the subject.

He alleged that the Centre was not providing required money for repair work.
The state has decided to put up dividers along the road to stop overtaking by vehicles identified as the main reason for jam.

Mahatama Gandhi setu was made operational in 1982.