Bihar Cabinet approves ₹3,516 crore for development of Vishnupad temple area, Son-Falgu river link

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Bihar Cabinet on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) gave administrative approval to two development projects worth a little over ₹ 3,516 crore, including the comprehensive development of the Vishnupad temple area at Gaya Ji and the construction of the Son-Phalgu river linking scheme.

The Vishnupad temple area at Gaya Ji will be developed on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi at an estimated cost of ₹2,520 crore, while the construction of the Son-Phalgu river link scheme will be completed at an estimated cost of ₹996 crore, said Additional Principal Secretary of the Secretariat Department Arvin. Chaudhary

A total of 17 decisions were taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

Talking to reporters after the Cabinet briefing, Mr. Chaudhary said that the completion of this project will give new impetus and strength to the religious, spiritual and cultural traditions of Gaya which have continued for thousands of years, especially important religious rituals like Pind Daan, Tarpan and Pitru Paksha.

Air Connectivity MoU

In another important decision, the government also approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India (AAI), New Delhi and the state government to expand air connectivity in the state under the regional connectivity scheme, modified UDAN scheme.

As a result of the MoU, the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India and the State Government will be clearly defined. This will facilitate the provision of necessary financial assistance under the UDAN scheme for new air routes proposed by the state and will also help in continuing operations on routes with low passenger demand during the initial period.

It also agreed to frame the “Bihar State Civil Aviation Cadre Recruitment Rules 2026” to regulate the recruitment and promotion of technical and non-technical posts in the Bihar Civil Aviation Department.

Contractual appointments in state medical faculties

The cabinet also agreed to recruit the post of assistant professors on contract basis in the state’s five government medical colleges until regular appointments are made to these posts, the ACS said, adding that it will make teaching faculty available in these colleges as per the standards set by the National Medical Commission in New Delhi.

The five government medical colleges where there will be contractual teaching appointments are Government Medical Colleges at Bettiah, Purnea, Chapra (Saran), Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Medical College, Madhepura, and Shri Ram Janki Medical College, Samastipur.

Similar contractual faculty appointments — professor, associate professor, and assistant professor — will be made at the state’s state dental colleges until regular appointments are made to those colleges.

He also fired Dr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, General Medical Officer, posted at APHC, Bahadur in Khagaria District, from duty for remaining unauthorized absent from duty from 17th November, 2021.

₹ 1,000 crore from BCF for flood protection and other works

The Cabinet also agreed to get ₹1,000 crore as advance from the Bihar Contingency Fund under the Water Resources Department, Mr. Chaudhary said, adding that the amount received would be used under the state plan for flood control works, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan and other important works in the irrigation sector.

The state cabinet also approved the ‘Bihar Water Resources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026’, which proposes to facilitate removal of accumulated silt from water sources, restore capacity of water structures and utilize silt from rivers, dams, reservoirs etc. for necessary earthworks and construction works in various projects.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 04:46 IST