In a crucial meeting held at the Old Secretariat in Patna on Tuesday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired a high-level session of the Bihar Cabinet, resulting in the approval of 20 key proposals spanning infrastructure, agriculture, education, policing, and industrial development.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the decision to construct minor airports in six districts—Madhubani, Veerpur, Munger, Valmikinagar, Muzaffarpur, and Saharsa—under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Bihar government will jointly oversee the development, with an allocation of approximately ₹150 crore for each airport.
Another significant move involved the redevelopment of the iconic Hotel Patliputra Ashok in Patna into a five-star hotel through a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model. Kumar Infra Red Enterprises has been awarded the contract on a 60-year lease, extendable by another 30 years.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to extend the services of 1,717 retired Indian Army personnel serving under the Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) until the financial year 2025-26, aimed at reinforcing the operational strength of the Bihar Police.
In the agriculture sector, the Cabinet finalized the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key crops: Chana (₹5,650), Mustard (₹5,950), and Masoor (₹6,700). The government also committed to procurement of these crops to support farmers.
The meeting also approved a ₹2.58 crore re-survey of five major rivers—Son, Gandak, Kosi, Moharhar, and Punpun—to better manage water resources in drought-prone areas and provide relief to farmers.
In education, several appointments were sanctioned including librarians, school attendants, and counsellors. The Bihar State School Attendant Cadre Rules 2025 were also approved, stipulating that 50% of vacancies for clerical and attendant posts in schools will be filled through compassionate appointments, while the remaining will be through direct recruitment.
Additional approvals included:
- Creation of a Revenue Advisory Committee under the Revenue and Land Reforms Department
- Approval for new recruitment in the State Sports Academy
- Allocation of nearly 70 acres in Nawada district to the Industries Department for developing an industrial zone
- Sanctioning new positions in the Health Department
