Patna: The Bihar government has cleared the widening of a key stretch of Patna’s Nehru Path, popularly known as Bailey Road, with the state cabinet approving an estimated Rs 39.8 crore for the project.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday, September 2. The approved project covers the stretch of Nehru Path from Dakbungalow Crossing to Rukanpura under the New Capital Road Division. The cabinet document puts the estimated cost at Rs 3,980 lakh, or Rs 39.8 crore.
The widening is expected to improve traffic movement along one of Patna’s key arterial corridors, which connects the city centre with several major residential and commercial areas.
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Patna’s Bailey Road to Be Widened From Dakbungalow to Rukanpura as Cabinet Clears Rs 39.8 Crore
Five-year urban development plan extended
The cabinet also approved an extension of the Mukhyamantri Samagra Shahri Vikas Yojana for five years, covering the financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The scheme is aimed at developing urban infrastructure across the state, including drainage, wider and better-quality roads, parking facilities, footpaths, lighting, parks, ghats and water bodies. Under the approved framework, district-level committees headed by the minister in charge will select projects for individual urban local bodies based on population.
The proposal also provides for a project ceiling of up to three times the earmarked amount, with selected schemes to be implemented through Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo). The government expects the projects to improve civic amenities and strengthen economic activity in urban areas.
Rs 9,169 crore in grants for urban bodies
Another major urban development decision involves the allocation of grants to the state’s urban local bodies for the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cabinet approved a total provision of Rs 9,169 crore under basic and performance grants recommended in the context of the 16th Finance Commission. The document also provides for the distribution of grants among urban local bodies based on population and own-source revenue in a 90:10 ratio after the release of the relevant central grant.
A state-level High-Powered Steering Committee and a State-Level Technical Committee have also been approved for reviewing and approving projects under the special infrastructure component.
Other key cabinet decisions
The cabinet approved 27 proposals from different departments.
Among the other decisions was administrative approval for consultancy services related to user-fee collection and tolling on state-owned roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The estimated cost is around Rs 30.95 crore.
The cabinet also gave revised administrative approval for construction of a road overbridge and approach road at railway level crossing No. 56 between Parsauni and Sitamarhi railway stations. The total estimated project cost is around Rs 110.42 crore, including the state and railway components.
In another decision, the government approved the abolition of the Bihar State Fisheries Development Corporation.
The cabinet also approved the extension of the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme for another five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31. The decision retains the existing process for providing education loans of up to Rs 4 lakh through the Bihar State Education Finance Corporation.
Additional posts approved for civil courts
The cabinet approved restructuring of posts for employees of civil courts. Of the sanctioned 7,527 Grade-III upper-division clerk posts, 1,478 posts will be upgraded to Grade-II and 1,098 to Grade-I, resulting in a revised structure of 4,951 Grade-III, 1,478 Grade-II and 1,098 Grade-I posts.
