Ranchi: State govt will write to the railways requesting that the expenditure for constructing rail overbridges (ROBs) and rail underbridges (RUBs) is done on a 50:50 sharing basis, minister Sudivya Kumar informed the assembly on Wednesday.Replying to questions raised by MLA Kalpana Soren on share of expenditure, trespassing on railway tracks and passenger facilities, the minister stated that railways now provides 50% of the civil construction cost of ROBs and RUBs, adding that the cost of approach roads and land is borne by the state. He said that the overall expenditure of the state in case of ROBs and RUBs usually reaches around 65%.He stated that apart from the issue of cost-sharing, railways would also be requested to build RUBs in areas where a significant number of people cross the tracks illegally. He said the issue of increasing passenger facilities in Jharkhand in view of its contribution to railway’s revenue would also be raised.In another development, parliamentary affairs minister Radha Krishana Kishore said the govt has taken cognisance of the allegation raised by MLA Pradeep Yadav regarding appointment of outsiders as vice-chancellors of state universities. He said he would talk to the higher education secretary on the issue and submit a report. The governor’s office on Tuesday issued a notification appointing VCs of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Jharkhand State Open University and Jamshedpur Women’s University.Soon after noon, speaker Rabindranath Mahto had to adjourn the session for about half an hour after opposition MLAs sought that Kishore’s statement alleging that India’s prestige has been compromised in the West Asia war should be expunged. The minister countered by claiming that the Centre had sold India’s prestige to the US. The heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches on the issue led the speaker to adjourn the House.Earlier, MLA Hemlal Murmu asked about the high demand for Abua Awas Yojana houses compared to PM Awas Yojana. Minister Deepika Pandey said it was due to higher grant of Rs 2 lakh provided by the state under the Abua Awas Yojana. She said they have requested the Centre several times to increase the grant for PM Awas Yojana from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.During the morning session, the speaker informed the assembly that he had directed officials to ensure that replies to questions raised by MLAs are accurate and provided on time. The House also passed the budgets for home, prison and disaster management, health, and food and civil supplies departments after a discussion.
