Lalu threatens agitation against Nitish government

Saharsa, Oct 15 (UNI) RJD Supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today threatened to launch statewide agitation against the alleged failure of the Nitish Kumar government to provide land for the execution of railway projects in Bihar.

After laying the foundation stone of the Electronic Locomotive Works at Madhepura, Mr Prasad alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was deliberately delaying the acquisition of land for railway projects.

He said his party would be forced to adopt the path of agitation if the Nitish Kumar government maintained an apathetic attitude.

Outlining the details of the projects taken up by the Electronic Locomotive Works at Madhepura, Mr Prasad said they had targeted to complete the project within 18 months.

''However, it seems the project will be delayed if the state government does not allot the 450-hectare land in time,'' Mr Prasad said.

He added that the project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 13,000 crore and announced that the local unemployed youth would be appointed in the locomotive factory where 120 railway engines would be manufactured every year.

He said a training centre would also be set up to train local youth prior to their appointment.

Mr Prasad said the much-awaited mega rail bridge over Kosi river would be completed by 2010 while the Patna-Pahleja rail-cum-road bridge over river Ganga would be completed by 2009.

The Railway department was also working to convert the metre gauge in the state into broad gauge railway lines, he added.

UNI