Bihar cabinet approves DPR for Patna metro rail project

The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday paved the way for rolling out metro rail in Patna as it approved the "Detailed Project Report (DPR)" which would be sent to the central government for approval.

In an another important decision, the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave its nod for completely banning the use of plastic carry bags in all the municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats of the state.

The production, import, storage, transport, sale and use of all types- irrespective of their size and thickness- of plastic carry bags will be completely banned after 60 days from the date of gazette notification, Cabinet Secretariat Department's Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar told reporters.

Notably, the Patna High Court- while hearing a PIL for banning the use of plastic or polythene bags- had on October 1, 2018 passed the order directing the state government to completely ban plastic bags in urban areas of Bihar from October 25 while in rural areas from November 25 this year.

Kumar said "Metro rail project would be implemented through special purpose vehicle (SPV) 'Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL)' at an estimated cost of Rs 17,887.56 crore. The cabinet gave its in-principle approval to send the project's DPR, Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and Alternative Analysis to the Central govenrment for its approval."