Bihar govt to do away with British names of roads

Patna: The state government has decided to do away with the naming of roads and lanes after British rulers and officers in the state capital. State urban development and housing department minister Samrat Choudhary has said the government directories will contain the new names of the roads which have since been renamed after Indian leaders.

Replying to a question of BJP’s Suraj Nandan Prasad, Chaudhary said on Wednesday the roads are under the jurisdiction of Patna Municipal Corporation which would be given necessary instructions in this regard. The government would create public awareness about the new names of the roads.

JD (U) member Neeraj Kumar suggested the minister to submit a list of the new names of roads to all the legislators and ministers. The letter heads of the legislators should also contain the new names of roads.

BJP’s Nawal K Yadav said nobody knows about the existence of Mazharul Haque Path and JP road in the city. “We, however, know there are Bailey Road, Gardiner Road, Serpentine Road, Strand Road etc,” he said.

Water pipeline: Choudhary said a fresh water pipeline would be laid down in the entire city covering a stretch of 1,600km. Replying to a question of Jd (U)’s Ram Bachan Rai and BJP’s Satyendra Narain Singh Kushwaha, the minister said tenders would be invited within a week.

Talking about the leakage of water in various localities in the state capital, he said repair work has been started at some leakage points. “If fresh cases come up, the agency concerned would be penalized and, if necessary, blacklisted,” the minister said.

Street lights: Street lights in the entire city would be illuminated before Diwali, said the minister. Replying to a question of BJP’s Baidyanath Prasad, Choudhary said all the lanes and main roads in the city would have street lights of different qualities before Diwali.

Courtesy: TNN