Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Wednesday held a review meeting of the Bihar Remote Sensing Center (BIRSAC) and clarified that technical approval from it will now be mandatory before giving DPR financial sanction to projects exceeding ₹50 crore.
All departments have been directed to strictly follow this provision, he said.
Mr. Amrit directed all departments to ensure systematic and comprehensive utilization of BIRSAC’s geospatial services and asserted that integration of BIRSAC’s geospatial capabilities in infrastructure planning is essential to make development projects scientific, data-driven and future-ready.
Departments have been instructed to incorporate geospatial inputs at the planning stage itself to avoid technical, administrative and land hurdles at later stages.
According to BIRSAC’s state policy on the use of geospatial services, geospatial analytics will now be made mandatory in the DPR of infrastructure projects costing ₹50 crore or more.
Departments using these services will pay only 0.25% of the total cost of the project, thus ensuring institutional sustainability without imposing an additional financial burden on the state.
The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education Dr. Pratima and senior officials including other chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries of various departments in Patna.
During the meeting, the secretary of the department presented Dr. Pratima continuing the activities of BIRSAC, he highlighted its role in creating geospatial inventories of the department’s natural resources and assets, providing spatial data for planning and development at the state level, supporting disaster monitoring and management and building geospatial databases at the village level.
Ms. Pratima informed that a digital tool is being developed in collaboration with Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N) to support DPR preparation.
The tool will use departmental data available on the PM Gati Shakti portal to assist in project planning, alignment and evaluation to ensure more accurate DPR.
Officials agreed that the system would avoid duplication of work, reduce costs and allow early identification of potential obstacles such as soil, forest and cross-drainage issues. The system will also support disaster management and monitoring of activities such as stubble burning. Departments can use these services as needed.
Mr. Amrit directed the departments to provide regular updates on the progress of the project through the portal and strengthen inter-departmental coordination. He also praised the work of BIRSAC and called for further strengthening of the technical and human resources of the center.
Published – 15 Jan 2026 02:40 IST
