Sahibganj, Apr 6: Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin
Gadkari said that Sahibganj-Manihari bridge on the Ganga will open new
avenues of development of Jharkhand.
Under the capable leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
water routes are also being developed by the Union and the State
government in coordination, he said while addressing the people at the
police lines here on the occasion of foundation laying of various
other projects including four lane Ganga bridge.
He said that the bridge was perhaps the longest in the country which
would be linking two states and open new gate for north east which
would enable 365 days transportation of goods. The bridge would also
help to reduce the distance between Sahibganj and Purnea by 78
kilometers which is currently 150 kilometers. He said that the water
ways would be used for the transportation of coal, iron ore and
fertilsiers which will be cost effective and cheap.
Mr.Gadkari said that foundation stone has been laid for 1390
kilometer long waterway from Varanasi to Haldia. He said that this
project will be completed with the help of Word Bank at an estimated
cost of Rs 5369 cr. This project will play an important role in
providing employment in Jharkhand.
He said that 311 km Govindpur- Sahibganj Road project will benefit the
people of the state. 4,50,000 plants will be planted on either side of
the road. Laying stress at making Sahebganj the center of industrial
development, he asked the state government to provide land for
developing Sahebganj as a smart city. He said that 5 lakh people will
get employed after developing Saheibganj water route while another
10,000 employment opportunities would be be created with the
development of the multi model port terminal. 40 small terminals are
being made along the bank of the Ganga with the estimated cost of Rs
2250 crore he said adding that LNG ships will be operated on the
Ganga.
The union minister said that the government has also set aside Rs 250
crore for development of river information system while another Rs 250
crore would be spent on strengthening the banks of the river. A sum of
Rs 1,600 crore would be spent on deepening of the rivers. He said that
3 multi model hubs would be set up in Kalughat and Gazipur and the
third being in Sahibganj. He said that the department would also
commence row-row ferry services at five cities of the country
Mr. Gadkari said that the ships will be repaired in Kolkata.
In
tourism sector also, the Ganga can be availed of for operating cruise
which would be creating job opportunities in Bihar, Jharkhand and West
Bengal. He said that companies would be setting up god owns and cooling
plants at the bank of the river which would also create employment
opportunities for the youth.
He said that for the first time any government has accorded focus on
the water ways and during this year work on 10 water ways would
commence in the country. Apart from the aircrafts which land on water
the department is also experimenting with water buses in Maharashtra
and Gujrat and if these prove to be sucessful it will be operated in
other states. After the terminal is made, Jharkhand will be connected
with the north-eastern states and get economic benefits.
He said that his department would be executing road projects worth Rs
60,000 crore in the next two years in the state prominent among them
being the NH-33 connecting Ranchi and Jamshedpur. He said that the
length of the NH has been doubled in Jharkhand after the NDA
government came into power.