Twelve bridges coming up every month in Bihar! One can say that Bihar is bridging the development gap. In fact, in July 2013, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a record 127 bridges,built at a cost of 378 crore. Can any other state claim such achievement?

The biggest hand behind this sort of achievement in Bihar is Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL). BRPNNL is proving as a game changer in the development of Bihar as the corporation has undertaken over 1200 bridges in the last 8 years.It includes 300 big bridges, while 627 are under construction. Over the last eight years, the corporation has successfully completed a host of projects to keep pace with the infra requirements of an emergent Bihar.

But apart from making bridges, it also constructs state of the art buildings. A major achievement for BRPNNL is landing the project of Rs 33 crore for International Convention Centre at Rajgir. It was inaugurated by CM Nitish Kumar in 2012. Designed by Jharkhand-based firm Infratech Ltd., the dome-shaped convention centre is constructed on an area of two acres of land near the Thai temple having a seating capacity of 1,300 people at a time.

Added to convention centre hall, there is also a heritage museum at its basement used for multimedia shows. It also has three seminar halls and an open- air auditorium. This museum comprises rare items of archaeological and sculptural finds. It has a collection of antiques along with several Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, bronze images of the Gupta and Pala period and terracotta artefacts. At present, 49 artifacts have been kept at the museum and many more would be added soon.

The Loknayak Setu in Patna is another major achievement of the corporation, built at the cost of Rs 82.55 crore.

Another big feat for the corporation, the Siwan road over-bridge, built at an expenditure of Rs 66.50 crore with pre-stressed technology, was inaugurated in 2012. The Piprahi bridge on the Bagmati river in Sheohar district, the Jhaua bridge on the Mahananda river in Katihar district, the Balabigha-Khanetu bridge on the Morhar river in Gaya district and the bridge at Dheng Ghat on the Bagmati river in Sitamarhi district are other feathers in the cap of BRPNNL. Moreover, the upcoming Vardhaman Institute of Medical Sciences at Pawapuri, Nalanda, would be one of the distinguished achievements of BRPNNL.

“BRPNNL is now fully prepared to expand beyond the boundaries of the state,” said BRPNNL chairman Sanjeev Hans. “Retain the best employees and implement the merit based performance system of management by instituting greater rewards for better performance” is the success formula to prove BRPNNL as a game changer in the state, he added.

[Series on bridges of Bihar  by Ravi Ranjan Kumar]

  Bihar, Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, Buddhist, development