Patna DM asks officials officials expedite projects

Patna: Patna DM Thiyagarajan S M on Tuesday reviewed progress of more than 55 central and state development projects and asked officials to expedite ongoing works by resolving local bottlenecks.Chairing a meeting of the project monitoring group, the DM asked sub-divisional officers to coordinate with landowners and executing agencies to clear hurdles delaying projects.To speed up implementation, the deputy development commissioner was directed to conduct joint inspections with senior district officials to resolve issues related to land acquisition, encroachment and utility shifting.The administration also warned that no fresh road excavation by agencies, including Buidco, GAIL and Namami Gange, would be allowed after May 31 to keep roads motorable during the monsoon. Officials said agencies failing to restore roads or causing drainage blockage could face action under the Disaster Management Act.Among key projects reviewed, widening of the Nehru Path-Gola Road stretch in Danapur has achieved 66% progress, while the AIIMS Golambar-Janipur-Painapur-Nauba road widening stands at 62%. Construction of the Punpun Station-Patna Ring Road link road has reached 67% completion.The meeting also reviewed progress of the Patna Metro project, where officials said land acquisition and transfer-related bottlenecks had largely been resolved for the priority corridor between Pataliputra Bus Terminal and Malahi Pakri.For the Danapur-Bihta elevated corridor, over Rs 194 crore has been paid to 972 landholders across 22 villages.Progress of the Patna-Ara-Sasaram NH-119A project under the Bharatmala scheme was also discussed. Officials said 176 acres had been acquired across 21 villages in Naubatpur and Bihta, with compensation exceeding Rs 149 crore approved. The acquired land was handed over to the National Highways Authority of India on April 27.Senior district officials, representatives of NHAI, Patna Metro and railways attended the meeting.