Is Bihar's Cabinet Ready to Transform Sonpur with a New International Airport?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, Feb 20 (NationPress) In a significant development during the ongoing budget session of the Bihar Assembly, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar presided over a Cabinet meeting on Friday.
Following the Assembly discussions, the state's Cabinet convened at 5:30 p.m. and sanctioned 35 crucial proposals, encompassing key infrastructure and flood-control initiatives.
The Bihar Cabinet has given the green light for the establishment of a Greenfield International Airport in Sonpur, situated in the Saran district.
For this project, an allocation of Rs 1,302 crore has been approved for land acquisition.
As per the proposal, the airport will be constructed in the Dariyapur Chanwar area, strategically positioned between Hajipur and Dumaria (Gaya).
The state government aims to finalize the airport by 2030.
This decision is regarded as a substantial enhancement to regional connectivity in northern Bihar.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a Lok Sabha MP from Saran representing the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressed his approval of the Cabinet's decision and thanked the state government for addressing a long-standing demand.
Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned a Rs 70 crore anti-erosion project in the Ismailpur–Bindtola area to safeguard Bhagalpur from severe erosion caused by the Ganga.
The Bihar Water Resources Department has devised a comprehensive action plan to tackle annual riverbank erosion, which results in widespread flooding and poses significant risks to residential and agricultural sectors in and around Bhagalpur.
Earlier, during the budget session on February 6, another Cabinet meeting approved 17 agenda items.
Notable decisions encompassed Rs 4 lakh compensation for the dependents of road accident victims, state-funded transportation of deceased migrant workers' bodies from outside the state, free medical assistance for injured migrant workers, expansion of powers for MLA and MP representatives, allowing their nominees to partake in district-level meetings, and endorsement of the Municipal Council Standing Empowered Committee.
The recent Cabinet resolutions underscore the Bihar government's commitment to infrastructure advancement, disaster mitigation, and social welfare during the current budget session.