Buxar/Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced development projects worth over Rs 476.02 crore for Buxar district as part of his Pragati Yatra. He remotely inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 73 projects, including infrastructure upgrades, drinking water schemes, and livelihood initiatives.
Of these, 41 projects worth Rs 350.13 crore were inaugurated, while 32 projects worth Rs 125.89 crore saw foundation stones laid.
Major Infrastructure and Water Supply Projects
A key highlight was the inauguration of the Simri Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, constructed at a cost of Rs 202.70 crore. Officials briefed the chief minister on the plant’s role in supplying arsenic-free Ganga water to 36,760 households across 214 wards in Simri block.
The chief minister also inspected the Buxar-Koilwar Ganga embankment, where 51.72 km of strengthening, blacktopping, and protective measures are being undertaken at a cost of Rs 1,812.68 crore. Once completed, the project will benefit six lakh residents across Buxar, Chakki, Simri, and Brahmapur blocks, providing flood protection and an alternative transportation route.
Additionally, Kumar inspected the newly built Panchayat Government Building in Parsan Pah, Rajpurkalan Panchayat, Simri block, reviewing its facilities, including a meeting hall and court.
Support for Women and Livelihood Schemes
The chief minister met with Jeevika self-help group (SHG) members, commending their contributions to women’s empowerment in Bihar. Since its inception in 2006, Jeevika has expanded significantly, with over three lakh members in urban areas.
During the event, Kumar distributed financial aid and symbolic cheques, including:
- Rs 129.75 crore to 12,743 Jeevika SHGs
- Rs 2.66 crore to 703 families under the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme
- E-rickshaw keys for beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme
- Rs 2.10 lakh for pond renovation under the Jeevika Gram Sangathan Adarsh initiative
- Financial aid under government schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, the Bihar Student Credit Card scheme, and the Chief Minister’s Disabled and Intercaste Marriage Promotion schemes.
CM Nitish credited Bihar’s SHG model for inspiring the central government’s Ajeevika scheme and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the initiative to urban areas.
New Roads, Tourism, and a Budget Hotel
Infrastructure projects in Buxar city received a boost with the foundation stone laid for a budget hotel at Hotel Vishwamitra Vihar, with an estimated cost of Rs 24.56 crore.
The chief minister also reviewed plans to widen and strengthen a four-lane road from Buxar Golambar to Jyoti Prakash Chowk, a 3-km stretch costing Rs 415.29 crore. This road is expected to ease congestion near the Veer Kunwar Singh Bridge, a critical route for heavy vehicles traveling between Patna, Ara, Buxar, and Ballia (Uttar Pradesh).
In the tourism sector, Kumar laid the foundation stone for the development of Ramrekha Ghat, including a new experience centre, restaurant, and link road at a cost of Rs 13.24 crore. Upon his arrival at the site, priests and pandits welcomed him with conch-blowing and drumming.
Senior Leaders and Officials in Attendance
The event saw the participation of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, as well as ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary (Water Resources), Nitin Nabin (Urban Development), Neeraj Kumar Singh (Public Health Engineering), and Jama Khan (Minority Welfare). Several former ministers, MLAs, and senior officials, including Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit, DGP Vinay Kumar, and Buxar District Magistrate Anshul Agarwal, were also present.
