PATNA, Nov. 13 -- Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday inaugurated an Rs.8.2-crore riverfront development project at Ram Ghat in Saran district's Manjhi block, announcing an annual state-level programme to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the site, a statement issued by the chief minister's office said. He also directed officials to extend ghats on both sides of the bridge. The project, implemented by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo), includes the riverfront, Atal Dwar and Atal Vatika. The chief minister also unveiled a statue of Vajpayee. Addressing a public gathering, Choudhary said Ram Ghat had religious significance because of its association with Lord Ram and the Saryu river. Its inauguration ahead of Chhath would provide better facilities to devotees, he said. Considering the strong current in the river, he directed officials to deploy a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team at the site to ensure the safety of visitors. The chief minister also announced that an annual Atal festival would be organised at Ram Ghat. He recalled Vajpayee's contribution to Bihar's development, saying the former Prime Minister had provided a special package of Rs.4,000 crore annually for four years following a request from the then state government. Choudhary further said he had urged Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari to replace the existing pontoon bridge with a permanent structure connecting Ara with Sitab Diara, the birthplace of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Gadkari had assured him that the proposal would be taken forward, he added. Earlier, the chief minister visited Dalan Singh High School-cum-Intermediate College and inspected facilities developed under the Seva Sankalp-cum-Kayakalp campaign. These included a space science and innovation lab, information systems management (ISM) lab, ICT lab, biology and chemistry laboratories, and a library. He directed officials to install computers in the library to provide students access to digital learning facilities. Students said the new laboratories would help them understand subjects better through practical learning. Choudhary said the government was working to strengthen schools, anganwadi centres and health facilities under the campaign. Bihar had established 700 model schools, while around 3.5 lakh students were accessing online education through the Vidyarthi Saathi app, he said. The chief minister said projects worth Rs.22,000 crore had been directed to be launched before March 31 next year to accelerate development. The government had also set a target of providing government jobs and employment to one crore people, while working to revive closed sugar mills. Choudhary also said the government was working to promote industries and revive closed sugar mills to generate employment within the state. He added that five new sugar mills would be taken up during Union home minister Amit Shah's visit to Bihar....