DUMKA: Godda MP Nishikant Dubey (BJP) on Tuesday said the Bihar government was not supporting the construction of a bridge over the Ganga river to connect Sahebganj and Manihari iand this could delay the foundation-laying ceremony of this highly ambitious project."The land acquisition process on the other end of the proposed bridge is going on at a slow pace and it could delay the project and also increase the estimated cost," Dubey told TOI over phone. He added that he is scheduled to meet Nitin Gadkari, the Union minister of road transport and highways soon, in this connection.In the recently-concluded Global Investors' Summit in Ranchi, Gadkari had announced that the foundation stone for the bridge will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March.Dubey added that earlier the cost of the bridge was supposed to be shared equally by the Bihar and Jharkhand governments, but the former remained reluctant to fund the project. "Now, when the Centre has declared that it shall bear all expenses of the project, the Bihar government is dragging its feet on it even though the bridge will prove equally beneficial for both the states," Dubey said.The project, which comprises construction of a 2.5km bridge and laying bypass roads on the either ends, was approved by the cabinet committee of economic affairs in October 2016. Dubey added that the bridge would also prove to be the gateway to India for South-East Asian countries.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ranchi headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.