Bihar Cabinet clears 63 proposals: Roads, NIFT land, ₹13,900 crore fund
Synopsis
Bihar's Cabinet cleared 63 proposals in one sitting — raising the state's emergency fund nearly 40-fold to ₹13,900 crore, approving two major PPP road corridors totalling over 160 km, and allotting NIFT a Patna campus at ₹10. It is one of the most wide-ranging single-session approval blitzes the state has seen in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Bihar Cabinet chaired by CM Samrat Choudhary approved 63 proposals on 29 April 2025 in Patna .
A 73.51-km 4-lane Greenfield road from Saran to Gopalganj approved under PPP (DBFOT Toll) model.
The 90-km Buxar–Arrah–Maner Ganga Path also cleared under PPP mode .
Bihar Contingency Fund raised from ₹350 crore to ₹13,900 crore for FY 2026–27 — a near 40-fold increase. ₹51.19 crore approved for Cyber Crime Unit and Special Branch buildings; 23 posts created for a Cyber Treasury .
NIFT allotted over 2 acres in Patna on a 30-year lease at a token payment of ₹10 ; Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park renamed Patna Zoo .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday, 29 April 2025, chaired a Cabinet meeting in Patna that cleared 63 proposals spanning road infrastructure, education, digital governance, and emergency financial capacity. The sweeping approvals signal an accelerated development push by the Bihar government ahead of the state's fiscal year ramp-up.
Key Infrastructure Projects Approved
The Cabinet greenlit the construction of a 4-lane Greenfield road connecting Darihara (Konhua) in Saran district to Dumariaghat in Gopalganj, spanning 73.51 km. The project will be executed by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) under a PPP model (DBFOT Toll), and approval was also granted to appoint DPR consultants and transaction advisors for the project.
A second major road project — the 90-km Buxar–Arrah–Maner Ganga Path — was also cleared under the PPP mode. Together, these two corridors are expected to significantly ease freight and passenger movement across central and western Bihar.
NIFT Land Allotment and Education Push
In a notable decision for higher education, the Cabinet allotted over 2 acres of land in Patna to the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) on a 30-year lease (renewable) at a token payment of ₹10. The move is intended to establish a permanent NIFT campus in the state, strengthening fashion and design education infrastructure in Bihar — a sector that has historically lacked institutional presence here.
Digital Governance and Cyber Infrastructure
The Cabinet approved ₹51.19 crore for the construction of dedicated buildings for the Cyber Crime Unit and Special Branch in Patna. Alongside this, 23 new posts were created in the Finance Department to establish a Cyber Treasury — a digital financial management unit aimed at modernising state fiscal operations. This comes amid a broader national push to digitise government treasury functions and curb financial fraud.
Bihar Contingency Fund Raised Nearly 40-Fold
In arguably the most consequential financial decision of the session, the Cabinet raised the Bihar Contingency Fund from ₹350 crore to ₹13,900 crore for the financial year 2026–27 — a near 40-fold increase. The fund is deployed for emergency expenditure when the legislature is not in session. The sharp enhancement significantly bolsters the state's capacity to respond to natural disasters, public health emergencies, or urgent developmental needs without awaiting legislative approval.
Patna Zoo Renamed, Other Administrative Decisions
The Cabinet also approved renaming the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna to simply Patna Zoo. Its managing body will henceforth be known as the Patna Zoo Management and Development Committee. The renaming is seen as part of a broader administrative rebranding exercise in the state.
With 63 proposals cleared in a single session, Wednesday's Cabinet meeting reflects a concerted effort by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to compress the state's development backlog — and sets the stage for a busy implementation calendar in the months ahead.
Point of View
900 crore — is the detail that deserves scrutiny beyond the headline count of 63 approvals. Contingency funds are by design opaque, deployed without legislative oversight; a fund of this size gives the executive enormous fiscal discretion. On the infrastructure side, both road projects are PPP-dependent, and Bihar's track record of attracting and sustaining private toll-road investment is mixed. The NIFT allotment at ₹10 is a legitimate policy incentive, but the state's ability to retain design talent post-graduation remains an unresolved question. Wednesday's Cabinet was ambitious in breadth — the harder test is execution depth.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the major decisions taken at the Bihar Cabinet meeting on 29 April 2025?
The Bihar Cabinet cleared 63 proposals including two major PPP road projects, a near 40-fold increase in the Bihar Contingency Fund to ₹13,900 crore, land allotment for NIFT in Patna, ₹51.19 crore for a Cyber Crime Unit building, and the renaming of Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park to Patna Zoo.
Why was the Bihar Contingency Fund raised to ₹13,900 crore?
The Bihar Cabinet increased the Contingency Fund from ₹350 crore to ₹13,900 crore for FY 2026–27 to significantly boost the state's capacity to meet emergency expenditures without waiting for legislative approval. The fund can be used for natural disasters, public health emergencies, or urgent developmental needs.
What are the two road projects approved by the Bihar Cabinet?
The Cabinet approved a 73.51-km 4-lane Greenfield road connecting Darihara (Konhua) in Saran to Dumariaghat in Gopalganj, and a 90-km Buxar–Arrah–Maner Ganga Path. Both projects will be developed under the PPP model.
Why was NIFT allotted land in Patna at just ₹10?
The Bihar Cabinet allotted over 2 acres of land in Patna to the National Institute of Fashion Technology on a 30-year renewable lease at a token payment of ₹10, as a policy incentive to establish institutional fashion and design education in the state.
What is the Patna Zoo renaming about?
The Cabinet approved renaming the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna to Patna Zoo, with its managing body now called the Patna Zoo Management and Development Committee, as part of an administrative rebranding exercise.
