PATNA, Sept. 3 -- The state cabinet has approved a Rs.39.80 crore proposal to widen Nehru Path (Bailey Road) in Patna, officials said, adding that the project, led by the road construction department (RCD), will span 7.20 km from Dakbungalow Chowk to Rukanpura. The expansion will involve relocating utilities and trees, removing existing drains and footpaths, and installing new safety markers and grills to reduce traffic congestion. The decision came as part of 27 proposals approved at a state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Samrat Choudhary. The meeting also cleared the RCD's proposal to levy user charges (pathkar), from vehicles on as many as 55 state roads and 47 key bridges across the state. The decision comes against the backdrop of a policy the state government had earlier formulated to levy road tax on major roads and important bridges. Talking to media persons later, urban development and housing minister Nitish Mishra said that the cabinet also cleared the allocation of Rs.9,169 crore as basic and performance grants to all municipal bodies in the state for the five-year period from 2026-27 to 2030-31, as recommended by the 16th Finance Commission. The amount will be distributed in a 90:10 ratio on the basis of population and own-source revenue, with Patna municipal corporation (PMC) set to receive an additional special infrastructure component and urbanisation premium. "The distribution pattern has been revised so that 10 per cent of the funds will now be linked to the performance of the urban bodies, while 90 per cent will continue to be based on population," added the minister. Mishra further said that the government also gave its go ahead to extend the tenure of Mukhyamantri Samagra Shahri Vikas Yojana to another five years (up to 2030-31). Under the scheme, projects relating to roads, drainage, parking, footpaths, street lighting, lakes, parks, ghats and water bodies will be taken up with a total outlay of Rs.500 crore, to be implemented by BUDCO. MLAs and MLCs can also recommend their proposals under this scheme. Additional chief secretary (cabinet) Arvind Kumar Choudhary later said that under the approved framework for collection of tax, the RCD will engage consultants to design the user-fee structure, prepare contracts, handle networking and bundling of projects, and undertake related works. Administrative approval has been accorded for an estimated expenditure of nearly Rs.31 crore for these preparatory and advisory services. "The measure is aimed at generating resources for the better maintenance and development of the state's road network," he added. Officials hinted that the fare of public transport might go up once the department began collecting tolls on roads and bridges. Among other decisions, the cabinet approved the formation of the Bihar state goat rearers cooperative federation under the Saat Nischay-3 scheme with an estimated outlay of Rs.14.80 crore over three years. It also ordered the clearance for heifer rearing centres under the National Gokul Mission at a total project cost of Rs.73.48 crore, adoption of the Centre's Animal Birth Control Rules of 2023, and the dissolution of the Bihar state fisheries development corporation. According to a proposal of the Department of Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources approved by the Cabinet, Bihar is primarily an agrarian state where animal husbandry plays an important role. "With the adoption of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, notified by the Government of India, in Bihar, the population of stray animals will be regulated in a humane and scientific manner," it said. Following the adoption of the rules, the identification, registration, sterilisation and vaccination of animals will be carried out across the state according to uniform standards. "This will help reduce the risk of accidents, filth and diseases caused by stray animals, contribute to creating a clean and safe environment, and promote animal welfare," the proposal said. "The use of modern breeding technologies at these centres will subsequently lead to an increase in milk production and the income of livestock farmers," it said. It also sanctioned Rs.40 crore as non-salary grant to the Bihar Museum Society for the proper functioning of Bihar Museum and Patna Museum in 2026-27. The cabinet also gave post facto sanction to the higher education department's proposal to restore the earlier loan limit of Rs.4 lakh under the Bihar student credit card scheme for another five years. Earlier, the loan limit was curtained to Rs.2 lakh....