Lalu's foundation-laying spree continues

DARBHANGA: Railway minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has urged people to honour the agreement he had with them almost 15 years ago to rule the state for 20 years.
While laying the foundation stones for three road overbridges at Darbhanga on Sunday, the railway minister, in his own inimitable style, told the gathering: "You have to take into consideration the remaining period of five years still to go under the said agreement before a fresh talk between us on this count could be initiated."
Continuing his inauguration and foundation-laying spree meant for the various railway projects at Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Raxaul, the railway minister laid the foundation stones for three overbridges here on Sunday.
Of the three overbridges, two are to be constructed on either side of Darbhanga Junction at crossing number 26 (Museum gumti) and crossing number 27 (Kathalbari gumti) while another one will be constructed at crossing number 32 between Kakarghati and Tarsarai stations on NH 57.
The combined cost of the three flyovers has been estimated to the tune of Rs 34.1 crore. The railway minister formally unveiled the foundation stones for the proposed overbridges by remote instrument at the university ground amidst traditional rituals of breaking coconut.
Lalu played his election card to the hilt by saying: "Now that people have handed over power to UPA government at the Centre, we don''t need to beg from the Centre anymore." He elaborated about various developmental projects undertaken with the assistance of the Centre by the present regime in the state.
Efforts are underway to facilitate development on all fronts with the help of the Union government. While highlighting the plight of north Bihar, particularly in the face of perennial floods, Lalu said the malaise inflicting this part could not be treated without searching remedial measures for floods.
The Centre has initiated talks with Nepal government for the construction of high dams and an allocation of Rs 30 crore for detailed survey has already been made in this regard. Besides this, an additional allocation of Rs 400 crore has been made to rehabilitate 4.5 lakh displaced families, he said.
Lalu added that several railway projects launched by the NDA regime in the state were languishing for want of funds. Now, they are being given clearance by the railway ministry. He also announced that construction work on Koshi mega bridge at Nirmali would start soon.
Lalu also announced that work on rural electrification, desiltation of irrigation canals, construction of national highways, rural roads, broad gauge conversion projects and protection of railway tracks and widening of bridges in the flood-affected regions will be undertaken on priority basis.