Patna, June 17 (IANS) The Bihar Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, on Wednesday approved 29 agenda items, including several major initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, infrastructure development, and administrative reforms in the state.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat, said the Council of Ministers had cleared schemes designed to improve connectivity, encourage tourism, and facilitate development projects.

The Cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026, which aims to make major tourist destinations more accessible through helicopter services. In the first phase, the scheme will cover Valmiki Nagar, Maa Mundeshwari Temple, and Rajgir. Six-plus-two seater helicopters will operate tourism circuits connecting these destinations.

Helicopter joyrides over Patna every Saturday and Sunday have also been approved, allowing visitors to enjoy aerial views of the state capital for Rs 2,100 per person, the state’s first structured helicopter sightseeing service.

The Cabinet also approved the Indus Darshan Pilgrimage Financial Assistance Scheme 2026, under which Bihar residents undertaking the pilgrimage for religious, spiritual, cultural, or tourism purposes will receive Rs 20,000 per traveller.

To strengthen tourism infrastructure, the Chief Minister’s Homestay Promotion Scheme 2026 was cleared. Key provisions include registering homestays with up to 8 rooms, a capital subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh per room, and a maximum subsidy of Rs 10 lakh for up to 4 rooms. The initiative is expected to encourage local entrepreneurship while expanding accommodation options for tourists.

Other approvals include measures for developing greenfield satellite townships under the Bihar Raiyati Land Purchase Policy 2026, authorising the Bihar State Housing Board to purchase land in proposed township areas.

New divisional service rules governing recruitment and service conditions for General Clerks across multiple departments were also approved, along with amendments to the 2023 rules relating to direct government recruitment of outstanding sportspersons from Bihar.

The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 30.65 crore for the acquisition of approximately 781 acres of land in the Chand and Chainpur blocks of Kaimur district for the proposed Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway project.

Another significant decision was the permanent transfer of 50 acres of Bihar government land to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the establishment of a security force facility in Gaya, expected to strengthen security infrastructure in the region.

The Cabinet’s decisions reflect a strong focus on tourism promotion, infrastructure expansion, land management reforms, and administrative modernisation.

–IANS

ajk/dan

Patna, June 17 (IANS) The Bihar Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, on Wednesday approved 29 agenda items, including several major initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, infrastructure development, and administrative reforms in the state.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat, said the Council of Ministers had cleared schemes designed to improve connectivity, encourage tourism, and facilitate development projects.

The Cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026, which aims to make major tourist destinations more accessible through helicopter services. In the first phase, the scheme will cover Valmiki Nagar, Maa Mundeshwari Temple, and Rajgir. Six-plus-two seater helicopters will operate tourism circuits connecting these destinations.

Helicopter joyrides over Patna every Saturday and Sunday have also been approved, allowing visitors to enjoy aerial views of the state capital for Rs 2,100 per person, the state’s first structured helicopter sightseeing service.

The Cabinet also approved the Indus Darshan Pilgrimage Financial Assistance Scheme 2026, under which Bihar residents undertaking the pilgrimage for religious, spiritual, cultural, or tourism purposes will receive Rs 20,000 per traveller.

To strengthen tourism infrastructure, the Chief Minister’s Homestay Promotion Scheme 2026 was cleared. Key provisions include registering homestays with up to 8 rooms, a capital subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh per room, and a maximum subsidy of Rs 10 lakh for up to 4 rooms. The initiative is expected to encourage local entrepreneurship while expanding accommodation options for tourists.

Other approvals include measures for developing greenfield satellite townships under the Bihar Raiyati Land Purchase Policy 2026, authorising the Bihar State Housing Board to purchase land in proposed township areas.

New divisional service rules governing recruitment and service conditions for General Clerks across multiple departments were also approved, along with amendments to the 2023 rules relating to direct government recruitment of outstanding sportspersons from Bihar.

The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 30.65 crore for the acquisition of approximately 781 acres of land in the Chand and Chainpur blocks of Kaimur district for the proposed Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway project.

Another significant decision was the permanent transfer of 50 acres of Bihar government land to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the establishment of a security force facility in Gaya, expected to strengthen security infrastructure in the region.

The Cabinet’s decisions reflect a strong focus on tourism promotion, infrastructure expansion, land management reforms, and administrative modernisation.

–IANS

ajk/dan