Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Samrat Choudhary on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the Urban Development and Housing Department, Panchayati Raj Department, and Tourism Department. Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
By A Correspondent
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Samrat Choudhary on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting at ‘Samvad’ in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, assessing the progress of the Urban Development and Housing Department, Panchayati Raj Department, and Tourism Department. He directed officials to ensure expeditious execution of projects with complete transparency.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary of the Bihar Urban Development and Housing Department, Vinay Kumar, presented a detailed update on key central schemes, city master plans, the Regional Rapid Transit System, the Patna Metro, and advertisement regulations. He also briefed the Chief Minister on the progress of centrally sponsored schemes such as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), and the Swachh Bharat Mission. Updates were also shared on sanitation and waste management, installation of CCTV cameras in urban bodies, solar lighting initiatives, and drainage systems.
Additional Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department, Aditya Prakash, apprised the meeting of ongoing works and proposed schemes under his department. Gaya District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar presented plans for the comprehensive development of the Mahabodhi Temple corridor in Bodh Gaya and the Vishnupad Temple corridor in Gaya.
Reviewing the progress, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to complete urban development projects swiftly, with special focus on sanitation and water supply. He directed that all infrastructure projects must be robust and of high quality. He also instructed officials to expedite the provision of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to ensure that all homeless families in urban areas receive permanent housing.
He called for the adoption of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for solid waste management to ensure better disposal and utilisation of waste. Stressing environmental priorities, he directed that sewage treatment plants (STPs) be kept fully functional and that construction of STPs along the Ganga River be accelerated. Expansion of the sewerage network was also emphasised.
The Chief Minister further instructed that crematoria be constructed at traditional cremation sites. He directed officials to ensure that all solar lights installed under the Chief Minister’s Rural Solar Street Light Scheme remain fully operational, and called for the development of a monitoring system to track their performance. Installation of CCTV cameras in every gram panchayat was also mandated.
On urban transport, Samrat Choudhary stressed the timely completion of the Patna Metro Rail Project. He directed that work from Malahi Pakri to Rajendra Nagar Terminal be expedited, along with early completion of connectivity up to Patna Junction. He noted that seamless integration of ISBT, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, and Patna Junction with the metro network would significantly ease commuting for residents.
Senior officials, including the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit, Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, and several other senior officers, were present at the meeting.
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