(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Bihar Government for the repair of Mahatama Gandhi Setu in Patna;
(b) if so, the details and status thereof;
(c) the time frame set for completion of the said project along with the renovation work of Buxar-Gaya Setu; and
(d) any other steps being taken to ease the traffic on Buxar-Gaya Setu?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) to (c) No proposal has been received from Bihar Government for repair of Mahatama Gandhi Setu in Patna in the current Annual Plan 2014-15. Three ongoing works amounting to Rs 85.68 crore, sanctioned during Annual Plan 2012-13 and 2013-14 for various repair and rehabilitation works of Mahatama Gandhi Setu are in progress with target date of completion by March 2016. As such, there is no project in the name of Buxar-Gaya Setu. However, for the repair of Vir Kunwar Singh Setu on river Ganga at Buxar, the letter of acceptance (LOA) was given to the contractor on 09.12.2014, with target date of completion within 6 months from date of LOA.
(d) The construction of new 2 lane bridge at Buxar was included in the project of 4 laning of Patna-Buxar section awarded on BoT (Toll) basis by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase III. However, the project was terminated due to failure of the concessionaire to achieve the financial close. Now, the project is proposed for taking up on Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. With the construction of new 2 lane bridge at Buxar, the connectivity will increase substantially.