Patna: The state cabinet on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 3,516 crore for developing the Vishnupad temple area in Gaya on the pattern of the Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi and for the intra-state Sone-Falgu river interlinking project. CM Samrat Choudhary chaired the meeting.The cabinet also approved the Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026, in line with the State Water Reform Framework being implemented by the Union Jal Shakti ministry. The policy will facilitate silt removal from rivers and reservoirs, restore their water-holding capacity and allow the material to be used for land filling during construction projects. Removing silt will also deepen rivers and increase their water-holding capacity, reducing flood threats.The Vishnupad project, estimated at Rs 2,520 crore, will include multi-level car parks, an elevated road, Mansarwa-Manpur bridge, ramps, dormitories, a canteen, pedestrian bridge, statue and ghat development. A PFC at Sitakund and public facilities will also be provided. The project will be implemented by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited.The Sone-Falgu interlinking project will involve an intake well 23km upstream of Indrapuri barrage on the Sone. Water will be carried through an 11km pipeline to the North Koel main canal and eventually into the Falgu.The cabinet also approved an MoU between the Airports Authority of India and the state govt for developing airports under the modified UDAN scheme in “challenge mode”. Heliports will also be developed in aspirational districts for air connectivity, emergency services and tourism. The cabinet further cleared the Civil Aviation Cadre Recruitment Rules, 2026.It approved contractual appointments of professors, associate professors/readers, assistant professors and teachers in govt dental medical college and hospitals until regular appointments are made. Teaching faculty will also be appointed against 366 posts in five govt medical colleges and hospitals at Bettiah, Purnia, Madhepura, Chapra and Samastipur.The cabinet approved withdrawal of Rs 1,000 crore from the state contingency fund for schemes in flood-prone areas selected during Nitish Kumar’s Pragati Yatra. It also approved Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum for petrol outlets on unused jail land in Purnia, Muzaffarpur, Buxar and Bhagalpur.It sanctioned Rs 89 crore for the central makhana development scheme, Rs 2 crore for the edible palm oil scheme and Rs 78 crore for the unified horticulture development mission. Approval was also given for a paravet school at Bihar Animal Science University and four deputy directors and two typists.
