Bihar's Rs 1.25 Lakh Crore Package Update: PMCH Renovation 90% Complete, Rural Roads Exceed Target
The renovation work of PMCH (Patna Medical College and Hospital), one of the oldest hospitals in Bihar, is almost complete. More than 90 percent of its civil or infrastructure related work has been completed. The remaining work will be completed in the coming few months. The renovation process of PMCH is going on under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The renovation process of two other medical colleges, Bhagalpur and Gaya, has been completed under this scheme. This exercise related to upgrading the three hospitals is a part of the special package given to Bihar by the Prime Minister. In a review meeting held recently at the level of Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, the situation related to the implementation of the PM package came to the fore.
The changed look of 2 medical colleges
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College located in Bhagalpur and Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital located in Gaya have been upgraded by spending Rs 200 crore each. Both these medical colleges have started appearing in a new look. They were also inaugurated by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister in September last year. At the same time, the exercise to upgrade PMCH is in the final stage. This too has cost more than Rs 200 crore. However, it has been made operational after the inauguration of its building and other necessary things.
Rural roads constructed more than the target
To strengthen the roads in the rural areas of Bihar, the target was set to prepare a network of 22 thousand 500 km of roads in PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana). But a much more than this, 2 thousand 864 km long road has been constructed. Rs 18 thousand 909 crore has been spent on this, in which the central share is Rs 11 thousand 474 crore and the state share is Rs 8 thousand 706 crore.
Petroleum and gas projects - changing the face of Bihar
Projects related to petroleum and gas have also been included and completed in the PM package, which has helped a lot in changing the face of Bihar. In this, most of the projects related to IOCL, HPCL and GAIL have been completed. Whereas, some projects are in the final stage. The expansion work of the capacity of Barauni Refinery under IOCL is going on at a fast pace. This project of Rs 14,810 crore is likely to be completed by August 2026.
So far, three projects have been completed under IOCL, which cost Rs 4,369 crore. This includes construction of BS-4 and BS-6 level fuel refining plant at Barauni Refinery at a cost of Rs 1500 crore. Pipeline construction between Motihari to Amlekhganj at a cost of Rs 324 crore. Extension work of LPG pipeline completed between Paradip Haldia to Durgapur at a cost of Rs 2,545 crore.
Similarly, four projects of HPCL have also been completed, which cost Rs 176 crore. The capacity of the LPG plant located in Patna was doubled by spending Rs 45 crore. An additional storage capacity of 1.5 tonnes has been developed in the same plant by spending Rs 15 crore. The LPG plant in Purnia has also been upgraded and its capacity has been doubled. A new LPG plant was built at Sagauli in Muzaffarpur at a cost of Rs 110 crore.
A 617 km long Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline has been constructed under GAIL at a cost of Rs 2,300 crore.
Central University in Bhagalpur will soon take shape
IIM in Bodh Gaya and Central University in Bhagalpur are part of this project. IIM has been established in Bodh Gaya at a cost of Rs 543 crore. Teaching has also started from this institute. At the same time, the process of establishing Vikramshila Central University near Vikramshila, the historical site of Bhagalpur, is going on at a fast pace. Its DPR has been prepared by the New Delhi-based School of Planning and Architecture. It has been sent to the Union Education Ministry for approval. After getting the permission, the process of its construction will be started. It is likely to cost Rs 500 crore.
