Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the "historic" Kosi rail mega bridge through video-conference on Friday and also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities in Bihar, his office said.
PM Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of a number of development projects in the poll-bound state in the last few days with sources pegging the total cost of these infrastructure and other programmes at about Rs 16,000 crore.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Wednesday that the "Kosi Rail Mahasetu" (mega bridge) is a watershed moment in the history of Bihar as it will connect the region to the northeast.
In 1887, a meter gauge link was built between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi in the region but it was washed away during the devastating flood and severe Indo-Nepal earthquake in 1934, the PMO said, adding no attempt was made to restore this rail connectivity for a long period due to the meandering nature of the Kosi river.
The mega bridge project was sanctioned by the Union government during 2003-04.
It is 1.9 km long and its construction cost is Rs 516 crore, the PMO said.
"This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border. The project was completed during the coronavirus pandemic and migrant labour also participated in its completion," it added.
The 12 other rail projects, which PM Modi will also inaugurate, include a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, five electrification projects, one electric locomotive shed and third line project between Barh and Bakhtiyarpur.
The inauguration of Kosi rail mega bridge will fulfil the 86-year-old dream and a long wait of the people of the region, the PMO said.
The prime minister will also flag off the Saharsa-Asanpur Kupha train from the Supaul station.
Once the regular train service begins, it will prove to be highly beneficial to Supaul, Arariya and Saharsa districts, making it easier for those on long distance travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
He will also inaugurate the railway electrification projects of Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi, Katihar-New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur-Darbhanga-Jaynagar, Samastipur-Khagaria, and Bhagalpur-Shivnarayanpur sections, the PMO said.
Assembly polls in Bihar are slated to be held in October-November, and the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule sometime this month.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
