Patna: Following its policy of “zero tolerance towards corruption”, the state government has decided to carry out the audit of all the urban local bodies (ULBs) through Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) empanelled auditors in the state.
“Currently, auditing of all the urban local bodies is being carried out by the Chartered Accounts but now, for the first time CAG empanelled auditors will carry out auditing of all the ULBs of the state. The decision has been taken keeping in view of the state government’s policy of zero tolerance towards corruption,” Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha told reporters here.
CAG has been urged to bring more ULBs under the ambit of its auditing exercise every year, he said adding that the auditing will be carried out in accordance with National Municipal Accounts Manual provisions.
Sinha, who also holds Urban Development and Housing Department portfolio, was talking to media persons here at his official chamber highlighting achievements of 100 days of his department. He was accompanied by Department’s Principal Secretary Vinay Kumar at the press conference.
The CAG empanelled auditors will conduct auditing of all the Urban local bodies (ULBs) that include- municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats. There are 19 Municipal Corporations, 89 Municipal Councils and 154 Nagar Panchayats in the state.
GOVT SETS TARGET OF RAPID URBANISATION; TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 36 PER CENT
With a view to carry out rapid urbanisation of the state, Sinha said that the state has currently 15.6 per cent of urban population against the national average of 36 per cent.
“We have to catch up with the national average urbanisation of 36 per cent for which we are committed to. We have taken a resolve to provide the people ‘clean city, green city’,” said Sinha and added that the state cabinet has already given a go-ahead for developing 11 new townships that includes nine divisional headquarters towns apart from Sitamarhi and Sonepur (in Saran district) besides redeveloping the old towns and cities.
Asserting that “planned city development” as the government’s priority, the Dy CM said that “master plan” will be prepared for all the towns of the state within a year.
ONLINE SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE ON SINGLE PLATFORM
As part of government’s commitment for ensuring “ease of living” for its people, the minister said that municipal corporations will provide all sorts of citizen’s services online through a single platform.
The move will be made applicable in next seven-eight months, he said and added that all types of services – be it redressal of complaints, depositing tax, waste disposal, getting one’s map passed – will be provided online.
ONLINE HOUSE MAP
The facility of getting house maps passed will be made online across the state, Sinha said and added that the department is developing systematic and transparent mechanism in this regard and the facility will be available at the earliest.
At present, the facility of getting house maps passed online is available in Patna only, he added.
SMART CITIES’ REMAINING WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY OCT THIS YEAR
Setting a deadline for completion of four smart city projects, Sinha said that the remaining work is likely to be completed by October this year.
Four cities of Bihar that includes Patna, Bhagalpur, Bihar Sharif and Muzaffarpur were selected under the Smart Cities Mission. These cities are undergoing development to improve infrastructure, including intelligent traffic management, waste management, and improved public services to boost sustainability and quality of life.
METRO’S BOTH CORRIDORS TO BE FUNCTIONAL BY 2030
Dy CM said that metro’s both corridors- blue line (priority corridor) and red line- will be made operational by the end of 2030.
Patna metro project comprises two main corridors, totalling approximately 31.39 km, designed to connect Danapur with Mithapur and Patna Junction with New ISBT. The project aims to improve urban transit with a mix of elevated (15.4 km) and underground (15.9 km) stretches, featuring a common depot at Bairiya Chak.
Replying to a query as when the metro service will be extended up to Malahi Pakri station, Sinha said that the remaining work on the stretch between Khemnichak and Malahi Pakri will be completed within a month.
At present, the metro service is operational between ISBT (Patliputra terminal), Zero Mile and Bhoothnath station.
DRIVE LAUNCHED TO REMOVE ILLEGAL PARKING & HOARDINGS
Following the passage of Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Bill 2026 from Bihar Legislative Assembly, Sinha said that special drive has been launched to remove illegal parking and hoardings in all the 19 municipal corporations of the state. All the illegal hoardings and parking- except those which are pending in the Patna high court- will be removed within 24 hours, he said adding that only those who got themselves registered with municipal corporations will be considered as legitimate one for parking and hoardings.
A directive has been issued for non realisation of parking fee from vehicles plying in municipal corporation area, Sinha said adding that parking fee will also not be charged from hearse van.
