MADHUBANI, Jan. 28 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday launched the second phase of his statewide Samriddhi Yatra from Madhubani, announcing development projects worth more than Rs.390 crore and reiterating his government's commitment to accelerating Bihar's growth and placing it among the country's developed states within the next five years.

On the first day of the second phase, Kumar laid the foundation stone for 101 new schemes with an estimated cost of Rs.298 crore and inaugurated 294 completed projects worth Rs.93 crore in the district.

Addressing a public meeting, christened "Jan Samvad" at Araria Sangram in Jhanjharpur block, the chief minister said that Bihar had witnessed steady and inclusive development since 2005 due t...