Bihar cabinet okays ₹4,740-cr World Bank loan for urban push

The under-construction government medical college and hospital at Sitamarhi will be renamed Maa Sita Medical College and Hospital, Sitamarhi.

The cabinet introduced e-voting for senior citizens, Divyang persons and out-of-state voters in the 2026 municipal polls.

The validity of the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package-2025 was extended till June 30, 2026.

The cabinet cleared free transfer of 1.85 acres of BIADA land for Patna airport expansion.

A ₹344 crore package for IIT Patna, including a research park and expansion of an incubation centre, was sanctioned.

The cabinet approved modernisation of 75 industrial training institutes into advanced skill centres at a total cost of ₹3,615 crore.

The cabinet approved the constitution of the Bihar Artificial Intelligence Mission to impart quality training to legislators, officers and employees.

The government is expected to notify the Bihar road user fee rules-2026 within the next month, after which toll recovery is set to begin; proceeds will be used for road maintenance.

The government planned to start collecting tolls on state highways, important district roads and bridges; the Road Construction Department (RCD) will identify suitable stretches and select agencies for collection.

Master plans for the remaining townships are targeted for completion by June 30, 2027.

The zonal plan for Patna is expected by March 31, 2027, with master plans for remaining townships targeted for completion by June 30, 2027.

The state paused land purchases, sales, transfers and all construction activities in identified core and special zones until master plans are finalised to prevent unplanned development.

The government announced plans to develop 11 greenfield satellite townships across Patna, Sonpur, Gaya, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Purnia, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Chhapra, Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi as part of urban expansion.

The Bihar cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, approved taking a ₹4,740 crore World Bank loan for the Bihar Urban Transformation Programme to support planned urbanisation and climate-responsive development, with long-term aims to attract private investment in city infrastructure.