Setting all the political speculation of rift between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his ally and RJD supremo lalu Prasad at rest, the CM on Sunday visited him, hugged, exchanged pleasantries and presented a bouquet. later on, the two rubbed shoulders at an official function to mark the opening of the two mega bridges.
The function was carefully organised by the road construction department, which is headed by lalu’s son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, to celebrate the 70th birthday of RJD boss and also to mark the 42nd Foundation Day of the Bridge Construction Corporation. The Opposition BJP had objected over the opening of the two important bridges on the birthday of lalu, who is convicted in a criminal case. later on, the department clarified that this was also the Foundation Day of the corporation.
The function held at the secretariat was attended by lalu where Nitish heaped praise on his once bête noire and attacked BJP, without naming, for ignoring the role and contribution of lalu in his capacity as Chief Minister and Railway Minister in the making of the two bridges.
“The Opposition and media are more interested to know that the relations between me and Nitish have soured. We have perfect relations but they cook up stories. We are one and will not allow the rivals to achieve their goals,” said lalu in his inimitable style.
The foundation of one of the bridges, Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge, was laid when lalu was the Chief Minister and then Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan brought then PM Deve Gowda for the ceremony. Nitish said when he became Railway Minister it came to his knowledge that the project had not even been passed by the Cabinet when the PM laid its foundation. late, the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was invited to lay the foundation. When lalu became Railway Minister he converted the rail bridge into rail-cum-road bridge after the survey.
“lalu ji has a great contribution in the making of this bridge and one should not forget his big role in this project,” Nitish said. He added, “It was up to the road construction department to get the bridges open on which date. We have got mandate to work and we are working while those (BJP) who did not get mandate are doing lip service.”
The two mega bridges dedicated to the people of Bihar have come as a huge relief to the masses and will connect South Bihar to North. The Ara-Chhapra river bridge named as Veer Kuer Singh Setu will drastically reduce
the distance from South to North Bihar. There will be a reduction of 130km between Ara in Bhojpur district in South and Chhapra in Saran district in North. The four lane bridge over Ganga has come up at a cost of Rs886 crore and has a four km length over river and 17 km approach road.
Road and bridge construction department Minister Tejashwi Yadav said, “The distance between Ara and Chhapra was 160km which is reduced to just 25km. Also the distance of Ara from Bettiah, Siwan and Gopalgunj will also be reduced sharply.”
“All round development is taking place in Bihar on ground, not in TV studios,” lalu’s son tweeted in a sarcastic manner.