Patna review sets tight timelines for Gaya industrial push
Patna — Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday chaired a high‑level review to push forward major infrastructure and welfare projects under the Bihar Gati initiative and other centrally and state‑sponsored schemes, and directed officials to make the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Gaya operational by the second week of October, according to reports of the meeting.
The meeting at the Sankalp auditorium examined projects worth more than ₹100 crore and included updates from key departments. Secretaries who briefed the Chief Minister included Pankaj Kumar Pal (Road Construction), Chandrashekhar Singh (Water Resources), Kundan Kumar (Industries) and Vinod Singh Gunjiyal (Social Welfare), the reports said.
- The IMC, located near Dobhi and forming part of the Amritsar‑Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), covers about 1,670 acres and is projected to draw roughly ₹20,000 crore in investment with potential to generate over 1.09 lakh jobs.
- Road projects reviewed included the Sultanganj‑Tarapur‑Sangrampur‑Belhar‑Katoria‑Chandan‑Dardmara corridor, with the 0.0–40.0 km section marked for conversion into a four‑lane carriageway.
- Social‑welfare directives covered timely payment of pending honourariums for Anganwadi and frontline workers ahead of Durga Puja, and acceleration of nutrition and adolescent‑girls programmes.
Officials were instructed to ensure completion of all required infrastructure and utilities for the IMC within the stipulated timeline so that industrial units can begin operations promptly. The IMC is a flagship project under AKIC and is being promoted to attract large‑scale manufacturing investment and generate local employment, the meeting note said.
Officials said the Chief Minister directed the Industries Department to operationalise the Gaya IMC by the second week of October and to complete site infrastructure and utilities within set timelines.
Connectivity and water schemes highlighted
On road connectivity, Mr Choudhary asked the Road Construction Department to prepare a detailed plan for widening the Sultanganj–Tarapur–Sangrampur–Belhar–Katoria–Chandan–Dardmara route and to prioritise converting the initial 40‑km stretch into a four‑lane highway. The stretch from Belhar to Dardmara was also flagged for four‑lane development to meet anticipated traffic needs.
Water‑supply projects were another major item on the agenda. Officials updated the Chief Minister on the drinking water scheme meant to supply Aurangabad, Sasaram and Dehri by drawing surface water from the Sone river. The CM asked for close monitoring and strict adherence to quality standards so that the scheme meets its timelines.
Social welfare and irrigation directions
The meeting also covered social‑welfare schemes such as Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 and Mission Shakti‑Samarthya, with an emphasis on clearing outstanding honourariums for Anganwadi and frontline workers before the Durga Puja festival to avoid hardship for those beneficiaries. The Chief Minister stressed delivery of benefits without administrative delay.
On irrigation, the proposed barrage on the Kamala river at Jaynagar in Madhubani was discussed; officials were asked to expedite pending procedures and progress construction in a time‑bound manner so that farmers can gain prompt benefit, the briefing said. The CM also directed officials to examine the feasibility of solarising canal banks and river embankments in the southern districts.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| IMC location | Dobhi, Gaya |
| Area | 1,670 acres |
| Projected investment | ₹20,000 crore |
| Potential jobs | 1.09 lakh |
Local stakeholders in Gaya will be watching closely as the timeline set by the state government allows limited time for completing site services — power, roads, drainage and water connections — that are critical for investors to commit and for factory construction to start.
Officials at the meeting emphasised inter‑departmental coordination and regular monitoring to ensure quality and timely execution of projects, and the Chief Minister asked for strict adherence to schedules to avoid slippages that can delay expected economic and livelihood benefits for the region.
