SAHARSA, July 13 -- The plan to link Tarasthan Mahishi (Ugratara Temple) in Saharsa to other signifcant shrines via NH-327 E seems to be in jeopardy as the highway ends around 1.5 km away from the world famous site, making it difficult to create connectivity. Mahishi is also the birthplace of 8th century Pt Mandan Mishra, a Hindu philosopher and contemporary of Adi Shankaracharya, the site later emerged as Mandan Dham. Besides, the missing link between highway's terminus at Mahishi East Chowk and Baluaha Kosi Mega Bridge also known as Kosi Mahasetu has raised the very question over the objective of the project, especially in Saharsa. The distance from highway's (NH-327 E) terminus at Mahishi East Chowk in Saharsa to Baluaha Kosi Bridge is 3 km and one has to take to resort to narrow and heavily trafficked road of RCD (Road Construction Department) to reach Baluaha Bridge on way to Patna or Darbhanga, causing immense difficulties to people during the monsoon. "We cannot go to the famous Tarasthan at Mahishi by availing the highly ambitious Bharatmala project NH 327E," social activist Amit Anand said and raised a question over connecting Saharsa's Ugratara Temple with Madhubani's Uchhaith Sthan." Anand has been raising the issue with the state government and NHAI for a long time. Raising serious questions over the very objective of Bharatmala project, Anand said, "We can say right now this has failed in its purpose here in Saharsa." Placing the demand for constructing a missing section of altogether 4.5 km, between Baluaha Bridge and Mahishi Tarasthan, he said, "Without constructing the vital link one can neither reach the famous Ugratara Temple nor can the people go to Patna or Darbhanga smoothly." The route serves as the shortest route to reach Patna or Darbhanga from Saharsa. The project director NHAI- Pandaul (Madhubani) Abhishek Mishra talking to HT over phone said, "There is no such provision in DPR (Detailed Project Report) and as the DPR the work is almost complete." He however admitted the difficulties being faced by the locals at Mahishi and said, "We will put the proposal in this regard." He said, "Right now, one can go to Uchhaith Sthan in Madhubani from Tarasthan Mahishi via Parsarma Supaul." He hoped the longest under-construction bridge (13.3 km) linking the Kosi and Mithila regions spanning between Bheja (Madhubani) and Bakaur (Supaul) along NH-527A will serve as the crucial link cutting travel by 70 km between the two regions. "This is likely to be operational by March next year," he added....