New bridge on Sone will bring four states closer

SASARAM: The 2.2-km-long road bridge on Sone river connecting Panduka in Rohtas district of south Bihar to Shrinagar in Garhwa of Jharkhand, the proposal for which received Bihar’s cabinet nod earlier this week, will benefit an estimated population of around 60 lakh people, mostly tribals and scheduled castes, across border districts of four states.

The bridge, to be built at a cost of Rs 210.13 crore, is to be completed by 2024. Detailed project report (DPR) was already sanctioned earlier and tender notices issued.

The bridge has been a long pending demand of people residing in the hilly forest region adjoining four states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The remote area, spread over four parliamentary constituencies on Kaimur plateau, is hit by left-wing extremism.

In 2019 elections, the BJP had won the Sasaram (SC) parliamentary constituency in Bihar, Palamu (SC) in Jharkhand, Surguja (ST) in Chhattisgarh. Its ally Aapna Dal won Robertsganj (ST) in UP. In the run-up to polls, all four had promised to get the bridge completed before the 2024 polls.

“Once completed, the bridge would reduce the distance people in the area have to cover to travel to places like Varanasi and Delhi by 70-130 kilometres. At present, people of the area bound for Varanasi for medical treatment, education and other works have to go via Aurangabad, which is a longer route,” said Chhedi Paswan, BJP MP from Sasaram, said.

After winning Sasaram seat in 2014 parliamentary polls, Paswan, who has been pursuing the matter, had said the bridge was approved under PM’s package and Rs 500 crore was allocated for its construction in annual plan 2018-19. “But the fund was relocated to Vikramshila Bridge. Later, surface and road transport minister Nitin Gadakari interfered and project was sanctioned under last year under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF),” he had said later.

Palamu MP Vishnu Dayal Ram said tpeople of Garhwa district in Jharkhand and Surguja district in Chhattisgarh going to Dehri have to cross Palamu and Aurangabad districts. “After the completion of the bridge, they could directly enter Rohtas district and access national highway 2 and Grand Chord railway line. The bridge would reduce the distance by 70-100 kms and save two crucial hours, especially for critical patients going to Varanasi,” Ram said.

Kaimur and Rohtas districts in Bihar, Garhwa and Palamu districts of Jharkhand and Sonbhardra district in UP are separated by Sone river. At present, they take a circuitous route to cross the river.

The bridge would reduce the distance people in the area have to cover to travel to places like Varanasi and Delhi CHHEDI PASWAN,

BJP MP from Sasaram