Curation Team
PATNA: In a major push to infrastructure development, the state cabinet chaired by CM Nitish Kumar on Friday approved the preparation of a pre-feasibility report for six proposed airports in Bihar. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been sanctioned Rs 2.43 crore to conduct the study.
The proposed airports are located in Madhubani, Birpur (Supaul), Munger, Valmikinagar (West Champaran), Bhagalpur and Saharsa. “The report will assess land availability, runway length and the type of aircraft the facilities can accommodate, along with other essential infrastructure,” said cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary S Siddharth.
In other major decisions, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 119 crore to host the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, scheduled from May 4 to May 15. As many as 27 sports events will be held and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the national event.
The cabinet also approved amendments to the Bihar Biofuels Production Incentive Policy, 2023, extending the application deadline to March 31, 2027 and financial sanction deadline to March 31, 2028. The revised policy offers single-window clearance for compressed biogas (CBG) units and long-term leases on land in BIADA areas.
Also, incentive claims of 74 industrial units under the Bihar Industrial Incentive Policy, 2011, were cleared. These units, already operational before Aug 31, 2023, had not secured prior approvals but can now apply with the required documentation.
To boost rural connectivity, the cabinet approved the rural works department’s (RWD) proposal to secure funding from the New Development Bank for constructing roads in villages with populations of 100 or more, not covered under Phase-II of the central rural road scheme. The govt aims to build 14,000km of roads with 2,652km already completed.
The RWD has also been authorised to construct bridges of 100 metres and above under the CM Setu Yojana, a responsibility earlier reserved for the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation.
In a major relief for consumers, the cabinet approved Rs 15,995 crore in electricity subsidy for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The Reserve Bank of India will directly transfer the amount to NTPC to facilitate distribution.
The cabinet also sanctioned the listing of three major religious fairs under the Bihar Religious Trust Board and approved 1,012 new posts across various departments. These include 244 posts for the Sports University in Rajgir, 40 in the Advocate General’s office, 185 for land acquisition work in the revenue and land reforms department and 526 (422 teaching, 104 non-teaching) for eight new degree colleges in Madhubani (West Champaran), Goraul, Shamho, Imamganj, Adhaura, Katoria, Asarganj and Chakai.
Permission was granted for setting up petrol and diesel outlets on roads of 12.20-metre width within Greater Patna and other municipal areas.
