Nitish launches projects worth Rs 1,159 crore, inaugurates Bihar's first cable suspension bridge

Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday launched projects worth around Rs 1,159.84 crore in Patna district.

The CM also inaugurated Bihar's first cable suspension bridge, modelled on the iconic Laxman Jhula of Rishikesh (Uttarakhand). The bridge over the Punpun River has been built at a cost of Rs 82.99 crore.

A statement issued by the chief minister's office here said, "The CM on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 17 development projects in Patna district." These projects include the construction of a bridge and approach road over Punpun River between Samda and Gularia Vigha villages in Paliganj block at a cost of Rs 19.77 crore, development of tourism facilities at the Ular Sun Temple in Paliganj at Rs 14.99 crore and construction of a connecting road from Punpun station via Akona village to the Patna Ring Road at a cost of Rs 88 lakh.

Other projects include construction of a two-lane road linking Sohagi Mor of the Sadikpur-Pabheda-Masaurhi Road to Kandaap on Patna-Gaya Road at a cost of Rs 41.48 crore and construction of a cable suspension bridge at the Punpun Pinddaan site at a cost of Rs 82.99 crore, it said.

Besides, 12 projects related to the power sector and four of the tourism department were also launched by the CM.

The power projects include capacity enhancement of power transformers at eight sub-stations, at a cost of Rs 10.20 crore, reconductoring of 20 new 33 kV power lines at a cost of Rs 26.02 crore, construction of 21 new 33 kV power lines at a cost of Rs 70.31 crore and capacity enhancement of power transformers at 18 substations at a cost of Rs 22.99 crore, the statement added.

The CM also interacted with a large number of pension beneficiaries and 'Jeevika Didis' at the venue in Punpun.

"Beneficiaries appreciated the government's move to provide 125 units of electricity free of cost to domestic consumers, which has enabled families to save and spend on other developmental needs.

"Jeevika Didis praised the government's initiatives for women's empowerment and expressed their gratitude to the CM. They said that loans were now available at just 7 per cent interest from banks, for which they were extremely thankful," the statement said.

Others present on the occasion included Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, state ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Development Commissioner S Siddharth, Director General of Police Vinay Kumar and other senior officials of the state government.