Patna: The Bihar cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has approved infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,645 crore to upgrade water supply and sewerage networks in Sasaram, Ara, Siwan, and Aurangabad. The decision comes just months before the expected announcement of the state assembly elections.
The projects fall under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0), a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Urban Development and Housing Department.
Sasaram will receive Rs 76.44 crore for drinking water supply and Rs 455.61 crore for sewerage works. In Ara, the water supply component has been allotted Rs 138.26 crore, while Siwan will get Rs 113.28 crore for water and Rs 367.03 crore for sewer infrastructure. Aurangabad will see a sewerage network expansion worth Rs 497.65 crore.
Officials expect the tendering process to be fast-tracked so that ground-level work can begin before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, likely in September.
The announcement is being viewed as a strategic move ahead of the polls, particularly targeting regions that delivered significant support to the ruling Grand Alliance in the 2020 assembly elections. All seven seats in Rohtas (Sasaram) district and six in Aurangabad had gone to the alliance, predominantly to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.
In Bhojpur (Ara), five out of seven seats were won by the alliance, and six of eight in Siwan. The investment appears aimed at reinforcing voter confidence in these strongholds, while also addressing long-standing urban infrastructure needs.
