Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought personal intervention of Union Transport and Highways Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari for sanctioning Rs. 600 Cr. to Bihar government for undertaking four-laning of 4-KMs road from Didar Ganj on NH-30 to Kangan Ghat to enable millions of devotees expected to converge at Patna Sahib for grand celebrations of 350th Parkash Utsav of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji with ease.The Chief Minister accompanied by Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa called on Mr. Gadkari in his office at Parliament House this afternoon.Mr. Badal apprised the Union Transport and Highways Minister that both the Governments of Punjab and Bihar were extensively preparing to commemorate the mega historic event to mark the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji from December, 2016 to January, 2017. He mentioned the large number of people would be traveling by roads along Patna-Bakhtiarpur (NH-30). He said in order to reach the temporary ‘Gobind Nagar’ tented city being erected along the banks of river Ganges abutting Kangan Ghat, there was an urgent requirement to develop the four-lane road having length of 4-KM from Didar Ganj-Kangan Ghat. The Chief Minister also informed Mr. Gadkari that owing to nature of soil along banks of River Ganges, the average per Kilometre cost of four laning was approximately Rs. 150 Cr. which comes to be Rs. 600 Cr. as total cost on account of building this new road.
Summing up the discussions, Mr. Gadkari assured the Chief Minister of positive outcome and said he would soon get the entire project reviewed from his Ministry before giving a final nod.Later, the Chief Minister met the Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley in his office at Parliament House to impress upon to make special budgetary provision in the next union budget for the celebrations of 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji.
Mr. Badal also paid a courtesy call to Union Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh at his residence.Earlier, the Chief Minister also called on the Chairman Railways Board Mr. Ashok Kumar Mittal in the office of Union Railways Minister at Parliament House and envisaged his direct intervention to ensure timely completion of several railway development works in Patna to enable hassle free and comfortable accessibility to millions of pilgrims expected to converge during the 350th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji.
Listing the works to be accomplished by the Railways Ministry, the Chief Minister informed the Chairman Railways Board to get up-gradation of Patna Sahib and Patna Ghat railway stations on top priority as majority of pilgrims would be travelling by special trains from Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.The Chief Minister also briefed the Chairman that currently disembarkation facility for persons travelling by rail was available only at Patna Sahib Terminal. Giving the current urban spread of Patna city, it would be virtually impossible for such a large number of devotees to travel to the temporary tented city being erected on the banks of River Ganges. The only viable solution of this was that the train should reach Patna Ghat railway station. This was an old defunct railway line from Patna Sahib Terminal to Patna Ghat railway station.The delegation led by the Chief Minister also included Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr. Naresh Gujral (All MPs) besides President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Mr. Manjit Singh GK and General Secretary Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema.