Bihar Cabinet okays transfer of Digha-Patna railway land to road dept

State cabinet also gave nod to construction of Danapur-Khagaul road at an estimated cost of Rs 578.7 million

The Bihar Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod for transfer of Digha-Patna railway land to the state Road Construction department on payment of Rs 2.22 billion for construction of road.

The cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved the Road Construction department's proposal for transfer of land belonging to Railways (Digha-Patna rail line) to it on the payment of Rs 2.22 billion for construction of 4/6 lane road in the state capital, Cabinet Secretariat department's Special Secretary, Upendra Nath Pandey told reporters.

On June 14 last, the Railway Ministry had accorded in-principle approval for handing over 71.25 acres of land to the state government upon payment of Rs 2.22 billion, the value of land worked out by a revaluation committee constituted upon directions of the Patna High Court.

The proposed road would bring better connectivity between Digha, the city's north-western extreme, and "R Block" which is a stone's throw from a number of important buildings including the state assembly in Patna.

In another important decision, the state cabinet gave its nod to construction of an eight lane and 4.05 km long Danapur-Khagaul road at an estimated cost of Rs 578.7 million, Pandey said adding that the money would be spent on widening and strengthening of the road along with construction of culvert and RCC drain.

The existing Danapur-Khagaul road is a two-lane road and it would be first eight lane road in Bihar, he said adding that the road would be built keeping in mind the provision for rolling out metro service in the area.

It also approved the private investment of Rs 332.9 million for setting up a 3000 metric tonne capacity unit of potato chips and snacks at Chilim in Sherghati sub-division of Gaya district, Pandey said adding that M/S Sa Vishnu Bakers Pvt Ltd, Kolkata would set up the factory.

It also gave nod to Agriculture department's proposal to increase subsidy from Rs 35 to Rs 40 on every litre of diesel for the purpose of irrigating wheat, paddy, maize, pulses, oil seeds, seasonal vegetables, medicinal and other plants, Pandey said and added that subsidy will be given on 10 litres of diesel for one irrigation at one acre of land.

The cabinet sanctioned Rs 6 billion for giving diesel subsidy while Rs 150 million was sanctioned for Akasmik Fasal Yojana, he said.

It also sanctioned Rs 3 billion from Bihar Contingency Fund for schemes to be executed in 2018-19 under "special central assistance" in left wing extremist affected districts, the special secretary said.

The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 3.36 billion for skill development programme in 2018-19, he said.