CM reviews flood management, road connectivity and major power projects; orders solarisation of government tubewells
Patna, Sept 2026 : Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday directed officials to expedite the solarisation of agricultural feeders and take steps to operate government tubewells using solar energy.
A review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister was held to assess the progress of major projects related to the Ganga, Gandak and Kosi river systems, the Buxar-Bhagalpur Greenfield Expressway, the 2,400 MW Pirpainti Thermal Power Project and the PM-KUSUM scheme.
The meeting also reviewed various projects related to flood management, road connectivity and solar energy. Water Resources Department Secretary Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, Energy Department Secretary Ajay Yadav and Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal briefed the Chief Minister on projects under their respective departments.
During the review of the Kosi river system, Choudhary said the Kosi was a dynamic and interconnected river system and required a long-term approach to flood risk reduction rather than limiting efforts to annual flood response.
He directed officials to adopt an integrated approach by considering the Kosi region as a multi-district river corridor linked to livelihoods, property and connectivity. He also stressed the need to give special attention to silt management and directed officials to take necessary action towards the construction of new barrages.
While reviewing projects related to the Gandak river, the Chief Minister directed officials to explore the installation of solar power plants along embankments.
The Road Construction Department briefed the meeting on the progress of the Buxar-Bhagalpur 6-lane Greenfield Expressway. The project has a total length of 348.196 km, of which 336.205 km falls in Bihar and around 12 km in Uttar Pradesh.
Choudhary also reviewed the progress of projects related to the Ganga-Ambika Path (Bidupur-Dighwara), Narayani Path (Darihara-Dumariya Ghat) and Vishwamitra Path (Buxar-Ara-Arrah). He directed officials concerned to speed up implementation and ensure that stipulated deadlines are followed.
The Energy Department presented a review of the Pirpainti Thermal Power Project, which has a proposed capacity of 3x800 MW. Works related to the Banka Thermal Power Plant were also reviewed.
The Chief Minister took stock of the progress of agricultural feeder solarisation under the PM-KUSUM scheme and directed officials to complete the work at the earliest. He said adequate and reliable electricity supply to the agricultural sector must be ensured while simultaneously promoting the use of solar energy.
Choudhary also directed officials to accelerate work towards operating government tubewells through solar energy.
On flood management, the Chief Minister called for a long-term action plan aimed at finding sustainable solutions. He stressed the need to systematically manage the Ganga, Kosi and Gandak rivers, strengthen embankments on both sides and construct four-lane roads along them wherever feasible.
He said the objective should be not only to provide permanent relief to people affected by floods in the Ganga, Kosi and Gandak regions but also to transform the areas into prosperous regions.
The Chief Minister noted that the first 100-km stretch of the Kosi region has been identified as a special danger zone and said double-sheet piling would be required at vulnerable locations. He added that removing silt from rivers would also help improve water storage and flow capacity.
Choudhary directed all concerned departments to ensure regular monitoring, inter-departmental coordination and timely implementation of projects so that water resources, road connectivity and the state’s energy infrastructure could be further strengthened.
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal, Energy Department Secretary Ajay Yadav, Chief Minister’s Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Water Resources Department Secretary Dr Chandrashekhar Singh and Managing Director of Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd Saurabh Jorwal were present at the meeting.
