Receding floodwaters have prompted the authorities to assess the extent of damage done by the Kosi and the figures trickling in suggests it would be long before Bihar’s infrastructure is restored.

The Bihar Roads Department’s interim report has revealed that over 2,000 km of roads have either been completely washed off or badly damaged and the state will have to cough up about Rs 2,200 crore to repair them. Approximately, 1,900 km of roads would have to be re-constructed.

“The damage is extensive and will be properly assessed once the waters recede. Rough estimates show the cost of repair and restoration could ride up to Rs 2,200 crore if we take an average of a crore per km of damaged stretches. A more conservative assessment also shows that a minimum of Rs 500 crore will be needed for temporary restoration of roads including the National Highways, state highways and major district roads,” said Kishore Ranjan Sinha, Engineer in Chief, Bihar Roads Department.

The report says over 340 km of NH running through the state have incurred heavy damage. “There have been several breaches. Temporary restoration alone would cost Rs 109 crore. Repairing the approximately 1,600 km of state roads would cost another Rs 400 crore. We would also need to build six pontoon and Bailey bridges along state roads and another four Bailey bridges on NHs. We are inviting experts from Kolkata to help us with the bridges,” added Sinha.

Supaul, Madhepura, Purnea, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Araria are the worst affected districts. NH-106 and NH-107 running through Madhepura along with NH-107 in Khagaria have incurred heavy damage.

... contd.