Patna: The municipal limits of Danapur, Khagaul and Phulwari Sharif, key urban regions around Bihar’s capital Patna, have been significantly expanded following a decision taken by the state cabinet.
The expansion aims to accommodate growing urbanisation and ensure better civic administration. The revised boundaries bring in new villages and raise the total population and area under the jurisdiction of these municipal councils, as per the 2011 Census.
According to Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Department, S Siddharth, nine surrounding villages have now been incorporated into the Danapur Municipal Council, increasing its area to 23.14 sq km and bringing a population of 1,95,564 under its fold.
The newly included villages are Faridanpur, Mainpura, Jamsaut (partially), Dhibara, Kothwan, Mustafapur (partially), Babakpur, Ashapur (partially), and Nasirpur. With these additions, Danapur’s new boundaries now include the Ganga River and a flood protection dam in the north, Khagaul Municipal Council and several other villages to the south, Patna Canal-Digha and neighbouring localities to the east, and areas including Mubarakpur and Chitnawan to the west.
Khagaul Municipal Council grows to 9.4 sq km
The cabinet also approved the expansion of Khagaul Municipal Council, which now spans 9.4 sq km and includes a population of 65,451. Villages added under its jurisdiction include Saidpura, Adampur Kala, Adampur Khurd, Sandalpur, Badi Khagaul, Khedalpura, Mustafapur, Aashopur, Sarari and a portion of Lakhani Bigha.
Its new borders are defined by Mustafapur, Aashopur, Nasirpur and Usrikala in the north; Muhammadpur Korji, Bhusaula Danapur and Nawada in the south; Patna Municipal Corporation and Nohsa in the east; and Sarari and Gorgawan to the west.
Phulwari Sharif expansion covers 16.51 sq km
Phulwari Sharif Municipal Council’s area has also increased to 16.51 sq km with the addition of Kurkuri, Bhusaula Danapur, Nohsa and Nawada. The updated population under the council’s jurisdiction now stands at 1,13,594.
The revised boundaries are now defined by Saidpura, Sabajpura and Khalilpura in the north; Alampur Gonpura, Hinduni and Ismailpur Dhibda in the south; Paharpur, Beur, Betauda and Chilbilli in the east; and Mohammadpur Korji, Korji and Muradpur to the west.
Jeevika Didis to stitch Anganwadi children’s uniforms
In another cabinet-level decision aimed at supporting women-led livelihood groups, children enrolled in Anganwadi centres across Bihar will now receive stitched uniforms prepared by members of the Jeevika programme. The previous system of transferring Rs 400 to the parents’ bank accounts for purchasing the uniforms will be discontinued.
Instead, this amount will be given directly to the Jeevika Didis’ institutions, who will be responsible for stitching and delivering the clothes. The allowance for uniforms will also be revised upwards by 5% annually. Each child will receive one set of clothing through their respective Anganwadi centre.
