Supual (Bihar), June 06: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will arrive here today to lay the foundation stone for a mega rail bridge across the river Kosi at Nirmali in Bihar's Supual district. The bridge, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 323 crore, would be the second major rail bridge of the four mega rail bridges planned under the National Rail Vikas Yojna announced by the Prime Minister on Independence Day last year.
The two-km long bridge slated to be completed in six years will join Nirmali and Saraigarh of the district and other parts of Mithila region and also develop alternative route between north Bihar and north-eastern states. The bridge will connect Nirmali terminus station of Darbhanga-Sakri-Jhanjharpur-Nirmali metre gauge section with Saraigarh stations of Saharsa-Forbesganj metre gauge route and provide a link to north-frontier railway, railway sources said here.
The rail link between Nirmali and Saraigarh was washed away in 1934 and train services were later stopped on the route. Since then no bridge site could be finalised to restore the washed away rail line.
The Prime Minister would land at Purnea by an IAF plane and from there would proceed to Nirmali on a helicopter. Vajpayee would return to the national capital from Purnea the same day after laying the foundation stone of the rail bridge in presence of Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi. He would also address a public rally at Nirmali. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at Purnea and Supual districts in view of the PM's visit. About 1000 police personnel and Special Services Bureau jawans would be on duty for Vajpayee's security, Supual superintendent of police R P Singh said yesterday. Bureau Report