NEW DELHI: In a series of key decisions aimed at education, infrastructure and public services, the Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of digital libraries in all 243 assembly constituencies, along with green signals for a major thermal power project, inter-state bus services, land acquisition for industrial zones and preparations for the upcoming assembly elections.
To boost digital access to learning, especially for students preparing for competitive exams, the cabinet gave its nod to establish a “digital library kendra” in every constituency under the Mukhya Mantri Digital Library Yojana. The estimated cost for the project is Rs 94.50 crore.
Each library, to be set up in government buildings like schools, colleges, panchayat offices or community halls with adequate space, will be equipped with 10 computer terminals, electricity, and high-speed internet. “It will require minimum of 300 sq ft area for installing and operating 10 computers,” said additional chief secretary of the cabinet secretariat department, S Siddharth.
In a major shift in energy policy, the cabinet also approved a 2400 MW thermal power plant (800 MW x 3) at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur, replacing the earlier plan for a solar power unit. The project will be awarded through a competitive tariff bidding process. “The company making the lowest bid for providing cheapest per unit tariff (Rs 6.08 per unit) will be awarded the contract,” Siddharth said.
To manage festival rush and provide better transport facilities, the state will run inter-state bus services on a PPP model. Private operators will work with the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation under a five-year agreement. The scheme, costing Rs 35.64 crore, will compensate operators with Rs 150 per seat on the peak side and Rs 300 on the off-peak side.
For industrial growth, the cabinet authorised the Infrastructure Development Authority to acquire land across several districts. This includes 441.79 acres in Aurangabad, 252.30 acres in Katihar, and over 500 acres each in Nalanda, Muzaffarpur and Supaul, with costs totalling over Rs 1,000 crore.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Rs 154.30 crore has been sanctioned for installing cameras at 90,712 polling stations to enable full webcasting and improved monitoring.
Other decisions included the creation of 167 posts in Munger University and Rs 65.80 crore for a 720-bed Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Residential School in Nabinagar, Aurangabad.
To boost digital access to learning, especially for students preparing for competitive exams, the cabinet gave its nod to establish a “digital library kendra” in every constituency under the Mukhya Mantri Digital Library Yojana. The estimated cost for the project is Rs 94.50 crore.
Each library, to be set up in government buildings like schools, colleges, panchayat offices or community halls with adequate space, will be equipped with 10 computer terminals, electricity, and high-speed internet. “It will require minimum of 300 sq ft area for installing and operating 10 computers,” said additional chief secretary of the cabinet secretariat department, S Siddharth.
In a major shift in energy policy, the cabinet also approved a 2400 MW thermal power plant (800 MW x 3) at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur, replacing the earlier plan for a solar power unit. The project will be awarded through a competitive tariff bidding process. “The company making the lowest bid for providing cheapest per unit tariff (Rs 6.08 per unit) will be awarded the contract,” Siddharth said.
To manage festival rush and provide better transport facilities, the state will run inter-state bus services on a PPP model. Private operators will work with the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation under a five-year agreement. The scheme, costing Rs 35.64 crore, will compensate operators with Rs 150 per seat on the peak side and Rs 300 on the off-peak side.
For industrial growth, the cabinet authorised the Infrastructure Development Authority to acquire land across several districts. This includes 441.79 acres in Aurangabad, 252.30 acres in Katihar, and over 500 acres each in Nalanda, Muzaffarpur and Supaul, with costs totalling over Rs 1,000 crore.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Rs 154.30 crore has been sanctioned for installing cameras at 90,712 polling stations to enable full webcasting and improved monitoring.
Other decisions included the creation of 167 posts in Munger University and Rs 65.80 crore for a 720-bed Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Residential School in Nabinagar, Aurangabad.
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