CCEA okays Rs. 1,955-cr Bihar-Jharkhand link road project.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a new link between Sahibganj bypass in Jharkhand to Manihari bypass in Bihar, including a four-lane bridge on river Ganga, stated a release.

The cost is estimated to be Rs. 1,954.77 crore, including the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. Total length of the road to be developed is approximately 22 km.

This work will be done under the National Highways (Others) on hybrid annuity mode. The concession period of the project is 19 years, including a construction period of four years.

The new link road will be approximately 16-km long. This stretch also includes a four-lane bridge on Ganga river.

The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Bihar and Jharkhand and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying in the area in these States. The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State.

It would also increase the employment potential for local labourers for project activities. It has been estimated that a total number of 4,076 mandays are required for the construction of one kilometre of highway.

As such, employment potential of 89,000 (approx.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch, it added.

HBL