Pace of road construction in Bihar "slow": Ramesh

"Completion of road work is lagging behind in Bihar. Though the state has spent 52 per cent of the allocated budget for this, only 37 per cent of road network has been constructed," Ramesh told reporters.

The Centre, he said, has raised the issue with Bihar government and the rest of the 10,000 km of roads in the state will not be finished before 2006-17.

"We have raised this issue of gap in expenditure and work done regarding the on-going road projects in Bihar with the state government," he said.

Ramesh said that since September 2011, road construction work has begun to cover Naxal-affected areas in the state.

 

He expressed satisfaction over the recent steps taken by Bihar government- recruitment of engineers, finalisation of core network and state claiming responsibility of the finished roads- to increase the pace of completion of road projects.

"We are happy that Bihar government has taken the responsibility of 30 roads and in next two weeks 300 more roads will be undertaken by it. It is also a positive step by the state government that they have finalised the core network programme," Ramesh said.

He claimed the Centre under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) has constructed 2100 roads in the state.

Ramesh also expressed apprehension over the giving the responsibility of road construction to five central agencies in the state.

"We have decided that the central agencies will not be involved anymore in road construction projects in the state. It is the responsibility of the state government and they should do it," he said.