New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the “Pragati Yatra” on Monday, beginning in Valmikinagar, West Champaran district. This extensive development drive aims to showcase the state’s progress under Kumar’s leadership and will involve the inauguration and ceremonies for numerous projects worth a total of Rs 700 crore.
A key highlight of the Pragati Yatra is the launch of an electrification project under the Energy Department’s on-grid scheme. This project focuses on bringing electricity to 22 remote villages nestled within the dense forests of the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bagaha.
Remarkably, approximately 70,000 residents, who have lived without electricity since India’s independence, will finally gain access to power. The Rs 139 crore investment has been allocated for the project.
The project’s design highlights an innovative approach to infrastructure development. For the first time in Bihar, underground cabling will be utilised to ensure a sustainable and reliable power supply across the VTR’s challenging terrain. This innovative strategy minimizes environmental disruption and ensures the long-term viability of the power infrastructure in this ecologically sensitive region. The project is anticipated to be completed within 18 months, signifying a quick turnaround time to deliver this vital service.
The Pragati Yatra aims to showcase Bihar’s developmental achievements over the past two decades under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. The Chief Minister, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and other party leaders, received an enthusiastic welcome in Valmikinagar. The Yatra’s first phase encompasses a week-long tour across several districts, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali, before concluding in Patna.
Extensive security measures, including the deployment of around 500 police personnel and 150 officers and magistrates, are in place to ensure a smooth and secure journey for the Chief Minister and his entourage.
