Patna: The state govt on Monday directed agencies executing four high-value projects—two each in irrigation and mega bridge construction—to step up manpower, equipment and machinery to ensure timely completion.The irrigation projects include the North Koel Reservoir Project (NKRP), worth Rs1,367 crore, being implemented in Gaya and Aurangabad districts, and the Mandaee project, estimated at Rs232 crore, which involves construction of a weir along with right and left main canal systems. The two mega bridges are the Bakhtiarpur-Tajpur bridge and the Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge, both across the Ganga.Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit reviewed the progress of these projects with senior officials of the water resources department and the bridge construction corporation. District officials and representatives of executing agencies also participated in the meeting.Reviewing the Bakhtiarpur-Tajpur bridge (Rs1,822 crore), Amrit said, “The executing agency must increase the number of equipment and manpower required to fastpace the work without compromising quality so that the project is completed by May 2027.”Regarding the Sultanganj-Aguwani bridge, he directed the agency to increase equipment and manpower to complete the approach road work by May this year. He added that no compromise should be made in the overall construction work of the bridge. He also asked for immediate submission of safety audit and integrity test reports for pillars 13 to 16.Land acquisition is in the final stage for the NKRP. In Aurangabad, most of the required 41.251 hectares has been acquired, and officials were directed to complete the remaining acquisition by April 30. A similar target has been set for Gaya.For the Mandaee project, Amrit instructed that earthwork and canal lining must be completed before the onset of monsoon.
