Bihar

Patna: The Bihar government is planning to transform the state’s roads to international standards by building five new expressways inspired by the Mumbai-Pune Expressway model. Minister for Road Construction and Industries, Dilip Jaiswal, stated that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is focusing on improving connectivity, and the master plan is already underway to ensure that any corner of Bihar can be reached from Patna within five hours. What is the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Model?The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is India’s first six-lane, high-speed corridor constructed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Stretching 95 kilometers, this expressway was inaugurated in 2002 by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with former Union Minister Nitin Gadkari credited for its development. It...

Darbhanga, Bihar: The passing of Maharani Kamasundari Devi, the last queen of Darbhanga Raj, marks the end of a significant chapter in India’s royal history. She and her husband, Maharaja Kameshwar Singh, played a pivotal role in the development of Mithila and the nation. Maharaja Singh was a member of India’s Constituent Assembly (1947–1950), and Maharani Kamasundari Devi was the last surviving spouse of its members. The royal couple’s philanthropic contributions continue to shape Darbhanga and Bihar. During the Constituent Assembly sessions, Maharaja Singh and Maharani Kamasundari Devi were among the 284 members, signing the original registers of the Indian Constitution and inscribing Darbhanga’s name. Maharaja Singh, elected from Bihar from 1907 to 1962, was the state’s sole represen...

Patna, Bihar: A long-standing water dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand over the Son River has finally been resolved after 26 years. Both states have reached a conceptual agreement on the formula for water allocation, and a formal MoU at the Chief Secretary level is expected to be signed soon. The Bihar government has already informed the Centre about the development. The dispute dates back to the year 2000, following the bifurcation of Bihar and the creation of Jharkhand. While the first major agreement on the Son River—known as the Vansagar Agreement—was signed in 1973 between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (as Jharkhand was then part of Bihar), the new state of Jharkhand began demanding its share of the river water post-bifurcation, triggering the prolonged dispute. Under the new arrange...

Patna: In a major boost to rural infrastructure, the Bihar government has decided to upgrade rural roads across the state into double-lane roads. The announcement comes ahead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s proposed Samriddhi Yatra and is being seen as a significant step towards strengthening rural connectivity and accelerating development. Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary said the initiative will be implemented in a phased manner under the Saat Nischay–3 programme. He emphasized that widening rural roads into two lanes will not only improve connectivity between villages and urban centers but will also make transportation safer, faster, and more convenient for the public. Under the plan, priority will be given to roads that connect blocks, sub-divisional headquarters, and distri...

Patna: Bihar continues to reel under severe cold, as biting winds and dense fog disrupt daily life across the state. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for 14 districts, warning of further temperature drops due to icy winds and ongoing cold waves. With the minimum temperature plunging to around 6°C, both urban and rural areas are experiencing extremely cold conditions, with little difference between day and night temperatures. The alert, effective until 14 January, covers East and West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, and Purnia. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious amid dense fog and severe chill, with minor relief expected only after ten days. Weather Fore...