Bihar Cabinet Approves New Policy to Boost International Air Connectivity with VGF Support

Bihar Cabinet today approved a new policy to increase international air connectivity on new routes in order to strengthen the state’s presence on the global map.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department S. Siddharth told news persons here that airline companies have been requested through official letters to start international services from Bihar to destinations including Qatar, Dubai, and Sri Lanka.

For this, the state government has also decided to provide a fixed amount under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme. The benefit will be given to airlines selected through the tendering process.

He said that the airlines operating flights from Patna to Kathmandu will receive financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh, while flights from Gaya to Sharjah will get Rs 10 lakh.

Similarly, flights from Gaya to Bangkok, Singapore, and Colombo will be given Rs 10 lakh each. Speaking about the condition he said that the aircraft having a minimum seating capacity of 150 passengers will get the VGF benefit.

The state government has already reduced VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to 1% to encourage international flight services.

This new policy aims to strengthen Bihar’s role in the national and international logistics network through Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport and Gaya International Airport, he said adding that it is also expected to attract new investments in the aviation sector and boost tourism.

The Cabinet also approved the honorarium of farmer advisors ( Kisan Salahkar) has been increased from Rs 13,000 to Rs 21,000 per month. For this, an expenditure of Rs 67.47 crore has been sanctioned. Their working hours have also been increased from 6 to 7 hours. Out of 8,463 sanctioned posts, 7,047 farmer advisors are currently working.

The cabinet approved the launch of Chief Minister Divyangjan Udyami Yojana to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship among differently-abled youth, modeled on schemes for minority communities. It will be implemented under the Chief Minister Divyangjan Empowerment Scheme (Sambal) with an allocation of Rs 10.25 crore.

The Cabinet sanctioned a revised budget of Rs 166.81 crore for nine ongoing hydro-power projects under Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation, including Tejpura, Dehra, Sipaha, Walidad, Paharma, Mathauli, Rajapur, Amethi, and Dehri Scape. Three projects Barbal, Rampur and Natwar have been approved for closure.

The government has approved the transfer of 0.0158 acres of state land in Jaganpura, Phulwarisharif (Patna), to Patna Metro Rail Corporation for metro station construction at Rs 30,000 per decimal.

The 2017 State Action Plan for eradication, release, and rehabilitation of child labour has been implemented, involving departments such as Transport, Backward and Extremely Backward

Class Welfare and Panchayati Raj. Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for strengthening the left embankment of the Patna Canal and Son river embankment. The project is to be completed by February 2027.