One more road, bridge please: Nitish tells Centre

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today requested the Centre to construct one more bridge parallel to the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur, besides a road connecting Buxar and Varanasi.
Addressing a public meeting here, Kumar heaped praise on the Centre for initiating development schemes worth Rs 3,769 crore.
"I have nothing to say as you have mentioned a lot about various projects for Bihar. But, it is my request to you to construct a road between Buxar and Varanasi," Kumar said.
Kumar's request came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a sewage treatment plant for Patna town worth Rs 738.04 crore under the 'Namami Gange' project. The PM also laid foundation stone for construction of a 195-km, four different National Highways worth Rs 3,031 crore, including a six lane bridge over river Ganga.

Kumar, praising Union minister Nitin Gadkari for his "positive approach" towards work, assured him that there would be no problem in land acquisition for any project.
Gadkari, who spoke before Kumar, said the Centre was constructing a greenfield expressway from Lucknow to Gorakhpur and Ballia and suggested that the expressway be connected with Patna as it would reduce the travel time between Delhi and the Bihar capital.

Gadkari said of the total 11 sewage projects that would be constructed for Patna alone, the foundation stone has been laid for four projects that would treat 140 MLD (million litres a day) and stop effluents from being discharged into the Ganga.

The foundation stone for the remaining seven sewage treatment plants will be done in next four month, he added.
Stating that the Centre has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for Namami Gange project till 2020, the minister said cleaning the Ganga is a tough task but "we will do it at any cost".