Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 1,373 development schemes worth Rs 1,056 crore in Patna district, as part of his ongoing “Samriddhi Yatra”.
The announcements were made during a programme held at Gyan Bhawan in the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre complex, where the chief minister remotely unveiled commemorative plaques. Of the total schemes, 761 projects worth Rs 473 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 612 schemes valued at Rs 583 crore.
During the event, he also reviewed departmental stalls and distributed welfare benefits to beneficiaries. These included a symbolic cheque representing bank loans worth Rs 519.26 crore for 206,989 women associated with 25,883 Jeevika self-help groups, along with Ayushman health cards, training certificates under the Kushal Yuva Karyakram, Bihar Student Credit Cards, and support under an integrated goat and sheep development scheme.
Addressing women beneficiaries, known as “Jeevika Didis”, the chief minister said they were playing a key role in Bihar’s development and urged them to continue their efforts, assuring government support for their initiatives. The women expressed gratitude for government programmes aimed at economic empowerment.
He also inspected ongoing infrastructure works, including the widening and strengthening of the AIIMS roundabout–Janipur–Painapur–Newa road, part of the Bihta–Sarmera–Patna Ring Road project. Officials said the 10.5 km stretch, which will connect NH-139 near AIIMS to the Bihta–Sarmera corridor, is expected to ease congestion in western Patna areas such as Danapur, Phulwari Sharif, AIIMS and Naubatpur, benefiting around four lakh residents.
The chief minister directed officials to ensure timely completion of the project with strict adherence to quality standards, noting its importance for improving connectivity to AIIMS Patna and surrounding regions.
He later visited the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar residential plus-two school under construction in Phulwari Sharif, which is being built to accommodate 720 students from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The complex will include academic blocks, hostels for boys and girls, staff housing and other residential facilities.
