Patna: Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday inaugurated 184 bridges, built by the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam (BRPNN) at a cost of Rs 549 crore, and also laid down the foundation stone for 41 others, with a projected cost of about Rs 145 crore, across the state.

“The bridges will bring people and cultures closer and speed up development. They will also help fulfil former CM Nitish Kumar’s dream of people from remote parts of Bihar being able to reach Patna in six hours,” Manjhi said after the ‘long-distance’ inauguration and stone-laying ceremonies, organized on the 39th foundation day of BRPNN.

The CM said Bihar had changed completely in the last eight-and-a-half years. The state’s plan size had grown from Rs 5,000 crore in 2005 to Rs 41,000 crore in the current financial year. This had been possible with the development of a network of roads and bridges, he stated. “This network of roads and bridges has led to economic growth and prosperity.

BRPNN has played a good role in the state’s development. It was once on the brink of closure, but today shares 15% of its profits (with the state) every year, but has also contributed Rs 75 crore to the CM’s relief fund over the last few years,” he said.