Two major roads in W Champaran in dilapidated condition

Speed Post News Network

Bagaha : Two major roads over river Gandak in West Champaran, which connect with Uttar Pradesh, remain in dilapidated condition for want of maitenance due to the indifferent attitude of the officials concerned. The two roads are : Ratawal- Dhanaha road bridge also called “Gautum Budhdha Setu Marg” and Bagaha-Chhitauni road via Madanpur under Bagaha Sub-division in West Champaran district which was converted into NH 28(b).

Both th roads and bridges were inaugurated by Nitish Kumar though in different capacity. Ratawal- Dhanaha road bridge called “Gautum Budhdha Setu marg” was inagurated by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in November 2013. Nitish, on that occasion, said that the road will bridge the gap  between Kushinagar (UP)and Lauria Nandanghah (Bihar) under Buddhist Circuit and open an era of development for four trans Gandak blocks falling under Bagaha sub-division. The Cane growers, who used to sale their produce to middlemen at throwaway price in absence of road, would now get reasonable price, Nitish had said. But, just after four years, approach to Ratawal-Dhanaha road bridge have become dangerous due to potholes and big ditches. The locals have raised their voice several times and staged dharna and demonstration but to no avail so far.

According to Bagaha SDM Dharmendra Kumar, neither state bridge construction corporation nor the state public works department are bothered about its maintenance. The SDM, in a communication to higher authorities, has requested them to decide that which agency will repair this road.

Another major road is Bagaha-Chhitauni road via Madanpur was converted into NH 28(b) by the then Union surface and Transport minister Nitish Kumar in 1999 while the double lane road bridge over Gandak was also commissioned by him as the then railways minister in June 2002. But the construction of Bagaha-Chhitauni (Paniyahawa) Road via Madanpur NH 28(b) is hanging fire due to apathetic attitude of  Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) officials.

President of Bhartiya Tharu Welfare Federation, West Champaran, Deep Narain Prasad, says the Bagaha chhitauni road bridge is a life line for Tharuhat and Dhangaron region and the locals have got forests right for exit and entry through the forests but the forests officials have unnecessarily  put hurdle in the construction of the road.

A bridge constructed at an expenditure of Rs 17 lakh over a Gandak revulate near village Rampurawa under Valmikinagar police station on Indo-Nepal border with the fund provided by Zonal Development Council (ZDC), Bagaha, remain unutilized even after ten years of its construction in the absence of an approach road. It was also inaugurated by CM Nitish  Kumar.

Bagaha ZDC member Tejpratap Singh said had the bridge been operational, strict vigil on Nepal border would have been that much easier for Shasatra Seems Bal (SSB) which has its office near village Rampurawa.