Patna: The Bihar cabinet has approved 13 agenda items, including in-principle clearance for a 336km six-lane greenfield expressway connecting Buxar and Bhagalpur.
The cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday evening under the chairmanship of deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary.
The proposed expressway will pass through Bhojpur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger and Banka. It will be developed entirely on a new alignment under the greenfield model.
The cabinet approved developing the project through a public-private partnership (PPP) model under the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL). It also approved the appointment of a consultant to prepare the detailed project report and a transaction adviser for implementing the project.
Economic corridor planned along expressway
The government also approved plans to develop an economic corridor around the proposed expressway, including the development of large land parcels along the route for commercial and economic activities.
The corridor is expected to encourage investment and business activity while improving travel between Buxar and Bhagalpur and reducing journey times between southern and eastern Bihar.
Rs 305.60 crore for 11,000 private tubewells
The cabinet approved Rs 305.60 crore for installing 11,000 private tubewells during 2026-27 under the Chief Minister’s Private Tubewell Scheme.
The scheme aims to help farmers install irrigation tubewells on their agricultural land and improve access to water for cultivation.
Land fee exemption for Kajra solar project
The cabinet also approved exemptions from stamp duty and registration fees on lease documents for land acquired for the Kajra Solar Power Project in Lakhisarai.
According to the government, the project is expected to generate local employment while helping meet the electricity requirements of industries.
New cooperative sugar mills planned
Primary sugar mill cooperative societies will be established for the proposed revival of sugar-mill operations at Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district.
The societies will be established on land belonging to the closed sugar mills.
Rs 66 crore approved for canal restoration
The cabinet approved Rs 35.82 crore for restoring canals under the Katihar Irrigation Division. The project includes the Katihar distributary and the Phulpur, Hasanganj, Baijnathpur and Semapur sub-distributaries and their associated canal networks.
A further Rs 30.35 crore was approved for restoration of the Janakinagar branch canal and its associated network under the Narpatganj Irrigation Division.
Rs 34.95 crore for district warehouses
To expand storage capacity, the cabinet approved construction of warehouses with capacities of 200, 500 and 1,000 tonnes across the state.
The scheme aims to create 48,200 tonnes of additional storage capacity by 2026-27.
A total of Rs 34.95 crore will be provided to 52 selected cooperative societies, with 50% provided as subsidy and the remaining 50% as revolving capital.
Rs 63.92 crore breed improvement scheme
The cabinet approved a Rs 63.92 crore breed improvement programme proposed by the Department of Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources.
The scheme will be implemented through COMFED and is intended to increase milk production and improve livestock productivity in Bihar by 2026-27.
Bihar to sign AI infrastructure MoU
The Information Technology Department’s proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding with Tayo AI India Private Limited to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure in Bihar was also approved.
The government said the initiative is aimed at strengthening the state’s technology and innovation ecosystem and preparing Bihar for emerging AI applications.
Employment exchanges to be renamed
The cabinet also approved the renaming of Sub-Regional Employment Exchanges as District Employment Exchanges.
These offices organise employment fairs within their respective districts.
