Construction of 6.30 km long six-lane road accepted by Bihar Cabinet: Official

The Bihar cabinet Tuesday gave its nod to construct a 6.30 km long six-lane road in Patna on land handed over by the railway, an official said. The road between R-block and Digha would be built at an estimated cost of Rs 379.57 crore, Cabinet Secretariat Department Special Secretary U N Pandey told reporters after the cabinet meeting. Earlier this year, the Railway Ministry had handed over 71.25 acres of land, through which a defunct railway track passes, to Bihar government on payment of Rs 222.19 crore.

The new road would bring better connectivity between Digha, the city's northwestern side, and R-Block which is a stone's throw from a number of major buildings including the state assembly in Patna. "The project would incorporate construction of the flyover, drainage, footpath, median work etc. The 6.30 km long stretch would be constructed on EPC mode at an estimated cost of Rs 379.57 crore," Pandey said. Under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode, funds are provided by the government which pays the agency hired for the purpose as per the work carried out by it.

In another important decision, the state cabinet gave agreed to increase the monthly remuneration of Anganwadi center services and sahayikas across the state, Pandey said. The cabinet increased the monthly emoluments of general Anganwadi center's services from Rs 3000 to Rs 4500, while services of mini Anganwadi centers would now get Rs 3000 in place of Rs 2250, Pandey said adding that Sahayikas will get Rs 2250 against the existing remuneration of Rs 1500.

Sahayikas would also get Rs 250 as incentive per month in addition to the hike if they regularly and efficiently run the center, he said adding that the move would put an annual additional burden of Rs 55.58 crore on state's exchequer. The main objective of Anganwadi centers is primarily concerned with the implementation of schemes related to children in the age group of 0-6 years, adolescent girls as well as pregnant and lactating women in order to improve their nutritional and health status.

In another decision, the cabinet gave its nod for private investment of Rs 30.23 crore for setting up a unit to manufacture TMT bars and coils near Fatuha Industrial area in Patna, the special secretary said. The unit would be set up by Shivshiva Steel Pvt Ltd, Patna with an annual capacity to manufacture 1,20,000 MT of TMT bars and coils. It would provide employment to 60 persons, both skilled and unskilled, he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)