Nitish wants Ganga riverfront to be more beautiful than Sabarmati

Patna, Feb 13: Chief minister Nitish Kumar's rivalry with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is no secret. On Wednesday, with laying the foundation stone for the Ganga riverfront development project, Nitish has thrown a fresh challenge to Modi,

Nitish, reportedly, wants Ganga riverfront to be more beautiful than Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad.

The Ganga project envisages development of 6.5km-long and 20ft-wide walkway, with 500 benches, decorative lights, trees, lavatories and kiosks along the bank of the river between Anta Ghat and Nauzar Ghat.

World Bank will give 63 % of the total estimated project cost of Rs 262.37 Cr

World Bank will contribute 63 per cent of the total estimated project cost of Rs 262.37 crore. Reportedly, Nitish has done considerable amount of savings in arranging the funds for the project. The loan of Rs 162 crore, taken from World Bank, will be repaid by the Centre. The Bihar government will spend around Rs 79 crore.

The Gujarat project, on both sides of the Narmada's Sabarmati channel in Ahmedabad, was conceptualised before Modi's arrival, in the early 1960s. The construction began in 2004. It was formally inaugurated by Modi on August 15, 2012.

"The contract for the Ganga project has been awarded to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as its bid was the lowest. The project is to be completed within a period of two years from the date of commencement of work. Thus, people can expect the riverfront to be ready by February 2016," said a senior official of Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (Buidco).

The project falls under the ambit of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) - a World Bank-funded scheme aimed at effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river.

Modi had taken around Rs 550 crore as loan from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) for developing the Sabarmati riverfront.

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