Polls ahead, CM directs officials to complete 200 bridges a year

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched the Biju Setu Yojana in October, 2011 with a target of construction of 400 bridges in three years at an estimated budget of Rs 1000 crore.
Polls ahead, CM directs officials to complete 200 bridges a year

Ahead of 2014 election, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday directed the Rural Development department to complete construction of 200 bridges per year.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed the construction of bridges at a high-level meeting in the Secretariat, had launched the Biju Setu Yojana (BSY) in October, 2011 with a target of construction of 400 bridges in three years at an estimated budget of `1000 crore.

Though construction process of 430 bridges has been started, those have not been completed. He directed the department to complete the tender process, place work order and finish construction of bridges within a time schedule. He directed the department to complete construction of 600 bridges in next three years.

The State Government had announced that construction of 100 bridges would be completed during 2011-12.

A target was set to complete 300 bridges during 2012-13 and 2013-14. The project is funded from the tax and non-tax revenue of the State.

The BSY would also cover the panchayat samiti roads which come under the Panchayatiraj department. Official sources said the project was launched to provide all-weather road network across the length and breadth of the State.

He also reviewed the progress of the bridges with an expenditure of more than `10 crore which is implemented by the Works department.

The department has taken up construction of 45 bridges which are being financed from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), state plan and Rural Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP).Official sources said out of 30 bridges under construction, eight will be completed in 2013-14.

Tender process is in different stages for the rest 15 bridges. The Chief Minister reviewed progress in construction of 10 railway overbridges.

He asked officials   Works department to regularly monitor the progress of the projects by preparing monthly work plan.

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