Overview
- Bihar’s cabinet, which met Wednesday, approved a ₹4,717–₹4,740 crore World Bank loan to build integrated urban economic zones and upgrade selected towns.
- Bihar also cleared ₹15,967 crore to maintain 19,305 km of roads using AI and machine-learning tools monitored from a central command centre in Patna.
- The state plans to begin toll collection on selected highways, key district roads and bridges, with user-fee rules due within a month to channel funds back into upkeep.
- A day earlier, Madhya Pradesh approved a ₹38,555 crore package for 2026–31 spanning roads and housing maintenance, 1,500 new anganwadi centres and child protection, a ₹2,442.04 crore pulses mission, and ₹1,295.52 crore for IT and electronics including manufacturing clusters and digital networks.
- Madhya Pradesh also set up a State Traders’ Welfare Board chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, with district committees and seats for RBI, NABARD, NHAI, FSSAI and industry bodies to speed trader grievance resolution and policy feedback.