Bihar - Projects and Development - Page 74

Cosmicbliss · May 17th, 2012, 07:02 AM

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfee...on/998969.html

Centre asks Bihar to set up Agri Federation

PTI | 07:05 PM,May 15,2012
Patna, May 15 (PTI) Centre today suggested to Bihar to set up an agriculture federation on the lines of Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (HAFED) to regulate distribution of fertilisers to the farmers. Observing that distribution and sale of fertilisers was in the hands of the traders in Bihar that caused shortage of the essential commodity to the farmers on regular basis, Additional Secretary (Agriculture) Ashish Bahuguna asked the state government to set up an agriculture federation similar to HAFED in Haryana to regularise the distribution of fertiliser in Bihar. The state government should also study the successful functioning of the cooperative institution in Punjab and Rajasthan that regulated distribution of fertiliser supply to the farmers in these states, he said. Speaking at a workshop later, Bahuguna said that there are unlimited opportunities for development of agriculture in Bihar and the state government should provide financial support through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to the farmers to boost output. The Joint Secretary (Agriculture) Mukesh Kullar said that the second green revolution in the country will take place in the Eastern region for which the centre has made a special provision for financial assistance to the states in the region since 2010-11.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:17 PM

Issue is not of just producing more crops. You need storage capacity, cold chains, agreements between farmers and MNCs to grow crops, food processing industries and linkages with agri universities.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:18 PM

http://www.business-standard.com/gen...ed-govt/10202/

Demand for airport at Raxaul in Bihar to be considered: Govt

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today indicated that there was no possibility of starting airlines' operations from Raxaul in Bihar but promised to look into the matter as BJP and JD-U members in the Rajya Sabha made a strong pitch for the same.

"There is no airport there for the last 30 years...There is no demand for any airline...I do not feel that there is any possibility for operations there," Singh said amid vociferous demands for it from members from Bihar.

Raising the issue, Sabir Ali (JD-U) said that long back, the Aviation Ministry had announced opening of an airport at Raxaul but the reply of the minister today has reversed the earlier position.

At this, Singh said for last 30 years there is no airport for flights connecting Raxaul but expressed his readiness to "discuss" the matter. He asked the member to bring the data with him in this regard when he insisted that there was "huge traffic" for airlines in the area.

The minister agreed with the members' contention that Raxaul located on Nepal border is a "sensitive" and important location.

Upendra Kushwaha (JD-U) said the land where the airstrip is located can be used for other activities as there was a proposal for opening a training centre there.

Ravishankar Prasad (BJP) said an air operations are needed at Raxaul as people have to either go to Kathmandu or Patna to catch a flight.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:19 PM

More than Raxual, they need to upgrade the airport at Gaya first.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:22 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13237453.cms

Military school mooted in Bhojpur district

PATNA: Vice-chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen S K Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, has expressed his willingness to set up a Rashtriya Military School in Bhojpur district to cater to the needs of the youths.

During his visit to Ara recently, Lt Gen Singh said Bihar needed such schools as the state had the maximum number of officers and jawans in the Armed forces after Punjab. Addressing ex-servicemen at Ara, he said Bhojpur district would be an ideal place for setting up such a school keeping in mind the highest density of ex-servicemen as well as serving jawans from Bhojpur.

According to Bihar ex-servicemen league president, Col (retd) V K Singh, the Britishers had established King George's Royal Military Schools during pre-independence period with an aim to providing public school education to the sons of defence personnel in the country. However, these schools were reorganized and admission was made open for civilians' children in 1952. The Britishers had set up these schools at Chail (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Belgaum (Maharashtra), Bangalore (Karnataka) and Dholpur
( Himachal Pradesh), he said.

The league president said these schools were renamed as Rashtriya Military School on June 25, 2007. Since then, these schools have been providing leadership material to Army and other professions in the country. However, with the change in the national recruitment policy in Army, which is based on male population of the state, Bihar accounts for 11.5% of defence personnel.

According to sources, there is no such school in the eastern states which come under the direct control of Director General of Military Training, Army Headquarters, New Delhi. Sainik schools come under the purview of state governments, sources said. According to Col (retd) Singh, Army has, of late, introduced 'Women's Commission' for women in the Armed forces.

"The greatest benefit of a Rashtriya Military School would be that students, including girls, could prepare themselves for Army, paramilitary forces, police and other professions. It would be great if Bihar government could provide free of cost land to Army for setting up such a school in Bhojpur district," the league president said.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:23 PM

Such schools are needed not just in Bhojpur, but in every district of Bihar and in fact every district in India as a whole.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:27 PM

http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...-falgu-kursela

21 bridges in 100 years, 16 in 6 in Bihar
TNN May 15, 2012, 07.31AM IST

Tags:Nand Kishore Yadav|centenary celebrations of Bihar|Bihar Bridge Construction CorporationPATNA: During the centenary celebrations of Bihar last month, road construction department minister Nand Kishore Yadav said that in 100 years the state got only 21 river bridges. On the contrary, 16 major river bridges have been built during the last six years, 17 are under construction and 12 are in various stages of proposal.

The bridges that existed before 2005 are Veer Kuer Singh Setu, Buxar; RajendraSetu, Mokama; VikramshilaSetu, Bhagalpur; and Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna (all across the Ganga), B P MandalSetu, Dumariaghat; Kursela bridge and Kari-Kosi (all across Kosi), besides five bridges on Kamla river, three on Gandak river and two each on the Burhi Gandak, Sone and Falgu.

The bridges constructed after 2005 include the KosiMahaSetu, four bridges each on Bagmati and Burhi-Gandak, two each on Kamla, Falgu and Mahananda rivers and one on the Sone. The proposed bridges include three on the Ganga at Bidupur, Mokama and Sahebganj, three on Gandak and one on Sone at Koelwar, which will be parallel to the existing rail-cumroad bridge. Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation is doing extremely good job and making bridges of confidence, said Yadav.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:29 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...w/13237019.cms

Patna University plans paperless exams from next session

PATNA: Patna University (PU), under its modernization plan, is likely to introduce paperless examinations for its different courses from the next academic session. The university has already introduced computerized evaluation of answer books of degree examinations this year.

PU vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said the university was contemplating to have a large hi-fi examination hall with a seating capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 so that examinees could be accommodated in batches. Each seat at the examination hall would be fitted with an iPad for examinees to write the answers. The iPad would record the answers which would be later uploaded on PU's computer system for the purpose of evaluation, he said.

The introduction of computerized examination and evaluation would not only minimize the quantum of manual work but also expedite timely publication of results. Besides, there would be complete transparency in the system, the VC said.

From the current examination season itself, PU has introduced computerized evaluation of answer books of Degree Part I Honours examinations in arts, science and commerce streams. The university has signed an MoU with a Bangalore-based firm 'Mind Logic' for the purpose. The company has installed large scanners and sufficient number of computers to facilitate the scanning and evaluation of answer books.

PU computer centre in charge K P Singh said all the coded answer books of examinees were being scanned and uploaded on computers. Examiners having their own codes would be handed over the computers for evaluation. As soon as the examiner enters his code, he would be able to access the answer books of the paper he is supposed to evaluate.

The examiner would be required just to evaluate the answer book of examinees and enter the marks for every answer. He need not do the totalling work, which would be done by the computer. The results would be published within two to three days of evaluation of answer books, Singh said.

Moreover, the evaluated answer books would be displayed on the PU's website so that students could see them if they so desire. This would bring in more transparency and even the examiners would do their work more sincerely, the VC said.

PU also plans to introduce virtual classes from the next session. Under this scheme, a student of B N College or Magadh Mahila College can attend the lecture delivered by a teacher of Patna Science College through networking. The process of networking is already on in different colleges and postgraduate departments of the PU.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:30 PM

Patna University currently lacks basic facilities. I am in favour of paperless examinations but am sceptical. We have to see what happens on the ground. Otherwise, higher education sector in Bihar is very bad condition currently.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:34 PM

The only solution is to invite private players like Manipal, Symbiosis, VIT and get them to run or manage or set up new institutions in the State. There can be a precondition about hiring locals/local students.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:37 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/13237273.cms

Mercedes-Benz eyes market in Bihar

PATNA: What Pune in Maharashtra was ten years ago, Patna is today. That is the perception of the world's premier car manufacturing giant, Mercedes-Benz, from Germany. And, accordingly, it has decided to open its showroom for its luxury cars here to cater to its potential up-market clients.

"Our showroom to market three of our luxury car brands (C, E and S class) would be ready here by the end of this year," said Mercedes-Benz corporate communications manager Ghazal Javed on Thursday, adding that 300 potential customers of the up-market luxury cars brought out by the Pune-based plant of the German car giant would gather at the Patna Golf Club on Friday to have a full view of these cars.

Also on display would be other car brands of the company brought here from Germany. "From our showroom, customers would also be able to purchase built-in car brands which would be imported," Ghazal said.

Ghazal, who belongs to Patna and had her higher education in Mumbai after completing her schooling from St Joseph's Convent High School ten years ago, said that Patna, for that matter, Bihar, had definitely changed for the better in the last seven years, so much so that investors from various area of activities have been showing active interest in the state with a view to tapping its existing and future market potential. "It is in this backdrop that we have planned to open our showroom here," she said.

Even though the price of the Mercedes-Benz luxury cars is 10% higher than the luxury cars of other brands, the company is of the view that its clients at Patna and in different parts of Bihar would fall for them owing to its brand equity, Ghazal said. Incidentally, as she said, Patna already has around 15 Mercedes-Benz luxury cars and buses on its roads.

According to her, Mercedes-Benz started its plant at Pune at an investment of Rs 6,005 crore in 1995 to manufacture the three brands of its luxury cars, and has been producing 15,000 cars per year. Last year, it sold 7,500 cars, while in the first quarter of this year it had already sold 2,200 of them. She added that hitherto, the market for the Mercedes-Benz cars in India lay in Delhi, Mumbai, and Punjab.

However, the car manufacturing giant has started eyeing the tier-II and tier-III cities, including Jabalpur, Kota and Patna, in the country, where the next big real market (60% of the total market) for its luxury cars lies. "Earlier, only pockets of the country developed. Today, we can say for sure that India is developing," Ghazal said adding that the "mood assessment of the 300 potential customers on Friday would help us in effective planning of the future."

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 02:38 PM

The question is, in 10 years time, will Patna be the next Pune or Bangalore?

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 03:29 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13237546.cms

Glitch hits Chhapra engineering college, Katihar polytechnic

PATNA: The pre-announced start of the first session of the government engineering college at Chhapra and polytechnic based at Katihar from July this year has been hit by unforeseen glitch, as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has not yet given its approval to the two new institutions.

During their recent visit to Delhi early this month, science and technology department director Shribhagwan Singh, accompanied by assistant director Anant Kumar, pleaded with the AICTE for the early grant of its approval so that the first session of the two institutions could be started as per the schedule. However, the AICTE did not make its mind clear.

"Everything is all right -- sab thik thaak hai. We expect the AICTE approval tomorrow, or day after tomorrow, or any day after that. Their attitude is positive," said Singh, adding: "Yet, any delay on the part of the AICTE in granting its letter of approval (LoA) to the two institutions could also jeopardize the start of their first session."

The department, in the circumstances, would like the AICTE approval to come before the start of the counselling of students for admission in engineering colleges, which, as per the schedule, is to commence from the first week of June. "If the AICTE LoA comes after counselling, then there will be the real problem for admission of students in the two new institutions. We, at best, are hopeful AICTE would heed our pleas and take note of our peculiar situation," Singh added.

The glitch, however, has occurred due to certain clauses of the AICTE norms for the grant of its approval which any new institution has to comply with. On the face of it, as the officials of the department put it, the norms have been so set and designed that they mainly address the cases of engineering colleges, polytechnics and other related institutions opened in the private sector, where admission fees are high.

The AICTE norms, by and large, do not address the cases of such institutions opened or started in the public or government sector at low admission fees -- like the admission fee of Rs 10 per month charged on students of engineering colleges in the state, since they have to address problems of students hailing from diverse classes of families.

Among the few salient norms include demand for financial statement from the manager of the bank that holds the account of the institution, affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper, certificate issued by architect of the buildings on the campus, details of accounts of the income and expenditure for three years duly audited by chartered accountant, and annual allotment of Rs 4 lakh for subscription of international science journal, among a few others.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 03:35 PM

This year, 70,000 students sat for the Bihar CET. In a few years it will reach 1,00,000. The Bihar government should have a dream: that no student from Bihar will have to go outside Bihar for higher education. There should be so many colleges in Bihar that not a single student has to leave the state for higher education. In fact, every state in india should have such plentiful employment and education opportunities that migrating anywhere will not be neccessary at all.

Cosmicbliss · May 18th, 2012, 03:37 PM

http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ancer-sansthan

Update on aryabhatta university:

However, Singh ruled out allowing private or deemed universities to set up campuses in the sate. "The government has set up Aryabhatta Knowledge University under an Act in 2008 for quality control and brought all medical and engineering colleges in the state under its umbrella as far as their syllabus and exams are concerned. It has also been allocated over Rs 50 crore for its building to be constructed on a 10-acre land near Mithapur Bus Stand. The government will bear a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 2 crore on its functioning," he said.

Bhartiya · May 19th, 2012, 12:40 PM

Quote:

PATNA: The two ambitious and long-pending railways projects in Bihar - the diesel locomotive factory at Marhaura in Saran and the electric locomotive factory at Madhepura - are likely to be delayed further. There is a move to expedite the proposed locomotive factory at Dankuni in West Bengal.

According to sources, railways has been constructing the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank. There is possibility that railways would seek assistance from the Japan-based agency to manufacture locomotives at Dankuni. In that case, the two proposed factories in Bihar could be delayed, sources said, adding that Dankuni locomotive factory was announced by Mamata Banerjee during her tenure as the railway minister.

According to a Railway Board official, railways would complete the proposed factories in Bihar as soon as the global tender is finalized. However, he denied that the proposed Dankuni factory would delay the Bihar projects further. In fact, these two factories are to be built on public private partnership (PPP) basis. Unfortunately, no form has shown interest in these projects so far, he said, adding that earlier, Grant Thornton International was a consultant to the railways on Bihar projects.

Allaying apprehension that the projects might be suspended, a Board official said that the Planning Commission and the PMO were keeping tab on these two projects. However, there was a sharp difference between the finance and railway ministry in the past over the issue of several aspects of the draft documents, including the price the companies could charge for locomotives, sources said, adding that railways has already invited global tenders for these two factories.

Justifying the need to carry on with these two factories in Bihar, a Railway Board official told TOI that railways would require about 1,800 electric locomotives every year to smoothly run passengers and goods trains. The proposed locomotive factories at Madhepura and Marhaura would only fulfil the needs of railways, he said.

While railways has decided to set up an electric locomotive manufacturing factory at Madhepura at an estimated cost of Rs 1,294 crore, a diesel locomotive manufacturing factory at Marhaura is being built at a cost of Rs 2,025 crore.

Currently, railways has two locomotive factories located at Varanasi (diesel engine) and Chittraranjan (electric engine). However, railways is very keen to start production of these two loco factories soon, a Board official said, adding that Dankuni locomotive factory was also on the priority list.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13282157.cms

Bhartiya · May 19th, 2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

BIHARSHARIF: Nalanda is emerging as an export hub of organic vegetables and other agricultural products in the state. The farmers of Nalanda district are not only getting handsome yields by using latest technologies but have also started finding overseas markets for their products, said Rakesh Kumar of Sohdih who recently broke the world record by producing 660 quintal onions per hectare. The previous record of highest yield of onion was 550 quintals per hectare held by a farmer in the Netherlands.

Rakesh said that he, along with 200 other farmers of Sohdih, uses organic and bio-fertilizers in their farms spread over more than 200 hectares and they are certified by a French company, Ecocert, which constantly monitors the kind of fertilizers used in the farms and then issues certificates. The reliability of the use of vermi composts and organic fertilizers is such that they recently received query regarding supply of 500 metric tonnes of potatoes to Saudi Arabia. He said the turnaround happened because of the use of latest technology, proper training and the use of traditional manures. The farmers of the locality exported bitter gourd (karela) and onions to countries like Bangladesh and Nepal and organic vegetables grown are regularly exported to different states of the country, he said.

The moving force behind the achievements of the farmers of the district is their adaptability to the new changes, said Nalanda DM Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.

He said that at a time when the farmers of other districts were reluctant to use the system of root intensification (SRI), the farmers of the district braced it wholeheartedly and, within three years of its implementation, a farmer from village Darveshpura in the district, Sumant Kumar, broke the previous world record in paddy yield.

Maya Devi of Ondi panchayat in the district was among the first farmers to adopt the new technology and the encouraging result she got became a torchbearer for other farmers of the district and hundreds of farmers followed her. The overall paddy yield was so strong that the state food corporation (SFC) procured more paddy than its target and the stock is sufficient to meet PDS requirements of three neighbouring districts for the next 7-8 months. Today, organic vegetables are grown on more than 500 hectares and they are being exported to different states, said district horticulture officer (DHO) D Mahto.

Besides outstanding success of farmers, the district also became the fourth in the country and the only district in Bihar to receive national award for the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for the year 2010-11. Nalanda recently achieved the distinction of being the first district of the state to be declared fully e-governed district of Bihar.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13281568.cms

Cosmicbliss · May 20th, 2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhartiya

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13281568.cms

Good good. Bihar should identify which crops can do well in which districts and then focus on monetising that.

Cosmicbliss · May 20th, 2012, 01:13 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13309900.cms

Godrej Agrovet to invest Rs 60 crore in Bihar

PATNA: Eminent industrialist and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) president, Adi B Godrej, on Saturday, said his firm, Godrej Agrovet, would invest Rs 60 crore in Bihar to set up an animal and poultry feed project at Hajipur with a capacity of 2.5 lakh tonnes.

Godrej said Bihar was a priority state for the CII as it had achieved one of the fastest growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the country. He said Bihar was enjoying a good reputation in terms of governance and progress.

During his power point presentation here, Godrej said that economic reforms, early implementation of goods and services tax (GST) and good governance could accelerate the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate by 2% to take it to over 9%, against the targeted 7.5%, in fiscal 2012-13. Indian economy would be buoyant thereafter, he said.

Explaining the CII theme to 'Revive growth through reforms and governance', Godrej said his discussion with deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi regarding early introduction of the GST was positive. Modi heads the committee of states' finance ministers for implementation of GST. "We need faster reforms combined with good governance, effective decision-making and quick clearance of projects," he said, adding that the CII would help push the growth rate by facilitating development process in the country. He favoured foreign direct investment (FDI) in different sectors, including retail.

Godrej said CII would extend help to both central and state governments and interact with opposition parties to accelerate the reform process to galvanize the economy, which would reduce the effect of current global slowdown. The CII would try to persuade the opposition parties to support legislations in parliament for ushering in economic reforms, he said.

The issue of Lokpal and Lokayuktas apart, governance was very important, Godrej said, adding that CII would work for development in power, mineral, infrastructure and other sectors. He said that 40-50 major infrastructure projects needed to be pushed through. CII's major role would be to work with states for development and Bihar was on its priority list, he said.

CII, he said, would constitute a task force to work with Bihar government to help in catalysing growth of private industries in the state. Bihar needed skill development besides development of agriculture, food and power to surge ahead. He said the deputy chief minister was impressed with CII's work for facilitating development in the state.

However, Godrej said big industrial investments would not come overnight to the state. CII would give exposure to its members about investment opportunities in Bihar, but they would have to take their own decision, he said.

Godrej said he would facilitate meeting of senior leaders of the government with industrialists in Kolkata, Mumbai and other places, regarding investment in Bihar. He said Bihar has a large market being the third most populous state in the country.

Cosmicbliss · May 20th, 2012, 01:16 PM

http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/...ff_776508.html

Patna's own Marine Drive project set to take off

Patna: Eight construction companies, including Gammon, Nagarjun and Reliance, have shown keenness to construct the proposed 40-km driveway along the banks of the Ganga river in Patna modelled on Mumbai's Marine Drive, officials said on Sunday.

Eight companies have submitted quotations for the Rs 2,234.46 crore project, said an official of the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd.

Bihar Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav told a news agency here that the government would select the company by June.

"We hope to start construction work by next year and the project would be completed
by 2016," he said.

Last year, the union finance ministry and the Planning Commission cleared the project.

In the first phase, the driveway will connect Digha and Didarganj, a stretch of 21 km, and in the second phase, it will go to Fatuha, a distance of 18 km. About seven km of the road will run on an elevated platform.

Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, had first proposed such a driveway in Patna, said a retired engineer associated with construction of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu here.

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May 17th, 2012, 07:02 AM	#1461
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfee...on/998969.html Centre asks Bihar to set up Agri Federation PTI \| 07:05 PM,May 15,2012 Patna, May 15 (PTI) Centre today suggested to Bihar to set up an agriculture federation on the lines of Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (HAFED) to regulate distribution of fertilisers to the farmers. Observing that distribution and sale of fertilisers was in the hands of the traders in Bihar that caused shortage of the essential commodity to the farmers on regular basis, Additional Secretary (Agriculture) Ashish Bahuguna asked the state government to set up an agriculture federation similar to HAFED in Haryana to regularise the distribution of fertiliser in Bihar. The state government should also study the successful functioning of the cooperative institution in Punjab and Rajasthan that regulated distribution of fertiliser supply to the farmers in these states, he said. Speaking at a workshop later, Bahuguna said that there are unlimited opportunities for development of agriculture in Bihar and the state government should provide financial support through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to the farmers to boost output. The Joint Secretary (Agriculture) Mukesh Kullar said that the second green revolution in the country will take place in the Eastern region for which the centre has made a special provision for financial assistance to the states in the region since 2010-11.

May 18th, 2012, 02:17 PM	#1462
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	Issue is not of just producing more crops. You need storage capacity, cold chains, agreements between farmers and MNCs to grow crops, food processing industries and linkages with agri universities.

May 18th, 2012, 02:18 PM	#1463
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://www.business-standard.com/gen...ed-govt/10202/ Demand for airport at Raxaul in Bihar to be considered: Govt Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today indicated that there was no possibility of starting airlines' operations from Raxaul in Bihar but promised to look into the matter as BJP and JD-U members in the Rajya Sabha made a strong pitch for the same. "There is no airport there for the last 30 years...There is no demand for any airline...I do not feel that there is any possibility for operations there," Singh said amid vociferous demands for it from members from Bihar. Raising the issue, Sabir Ali (JD-U) said that long back, the Aviation Ministry had announced opening of an airport at Raxaul but the reply of the minister today has reversed the earlier position. At this, Singh said for last 30 years there is no airport for flights connecting Raxaul but expressed his readiness to "discuss" the matter. He asked the member to bring the data with him in this regard when he insisted that there was "huge traffic" for airlines in the area. The minister agreed with the members' contention that Raxaul located on Nepal border is a "sensitive" and important location. Upendra Kushwaha (JD-U) said the land where the airstrip is located can be used for other activities as there was a proposal for opening a training centre there. Ravishankar Prasad (BJP) said an air operations are needed at Raxaul as people have to either go to Kathmandu or Patna to catch a flight.

May 18th, 2012, 02:19 PM	#1464
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	More than Raxual, they need to upgrade the airport at Gaya first.

May 18th, 2012, 02:22 PM	#1465
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13237453.cms Military school mooted in Bhojpur district PATNA: Vice-chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen S K Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, has expressed his willingness to set up a Rashtriya Military School in Bhojpur district to cater to the needs of the youths. During his visit to Ara recently, Lt Gen Singh said Bihar needed such schools as the state had the maximum number of officers and jawans in the Armed forces after Punjab. Addressing ex-servicemen at Ara, he said Bhojpur district would be an ideal place for setting up such a school keeping in mind the highest density of ex-servicemen as well as serving jawans from Bhojpur. According to Bihar ex-servicemen league president, Col (retd) V K Singh, the Britishers had established King George's Royal Military Schools during pre-independence period with an aim to providing public school education to the sons of defence personnel in the country. However, these schools were reorganized and admission was made open for civilians' children in 1952. The Britishers had set up these schools at Chail (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Belgaum (Maharashtra), Bangalore (Karnataka) and Dholpur ( Himachal Pradesh), he said. The league president said these schools were renamed as Rashtriya Military School on June 25, 2007. Since then, these schools have been providing leadership material to Army and other professions in the country. However, with the change in the national recruitment policy in Army, which is based on male population of the state, Bihar accounts for 11.5% of defence personnel. According to sources, there is no such school in the eastern states which come under the direct control of Director General of Military Training, Army Headquarters, New Delhi. Sainik schools come under the purview of state governments, sources said. According to Col (retd) Singh, Army has, of late, introduced 'Women's Commission' for women in the Armed forces. "The greatest benefit of a Rashtriya Military School would be that students, including girls, could prepare themselves for Army, paramilitary forces, police and other professions. It would be great if Bihar government could provide free of cost land to Army for setting up such a school in Bhojpur district," the league president said.

May 18th, 2012, 02:23 PM	#1466
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	Such schools are needed not just in Bhojpur, but in every district of Bihar and in fact every district in India as a whole.

May 18th, 2012, 02:27 PM	#1467
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...-falgu-kursela 21 bridges in 100 years, 16 in 6 in Bihar TNN May 15, 2012, 07.31AM IST Tags:Nand Kishore Yadav\|centenary celebrations of Bihar\|Bihar Bridge Construction CorporationPATNA: During the centenary celebrations of Bihar last month, road construction department minister Nand Kishore Yadav said that in 100 years the state got only 21 river bridges. On the contrary, 16 major river bridges have been built during the last six years, 17 are under construction and 12 are in various stages of proposal. The bridges that existed before 2005 are Veer Kuer Singh Setu, Buxar; RajendraSetu, Mokama; VikramshilaSetu, Bhagalpur; and Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna (all across the Ganga), B P MandalSetu, Dumariaghat; Kursela bridge and Kari-Kosi (all across Kosi), besides five bridges on Kamla river, three on Gandak river and two each on the Burhi Gandak, Sone and Falgu. The bridges constructed after 2005 include the KosiMahaSetu, four bridges each on Bagmati and Burhi-Gandak, two each on Kamla, Falgu and Mahananda rivers and one on the Sone. The proposed bridges include three on the Ganga at Bidupur, Mokama and Sahebganj, three on Gandak and one on Sone at Koelwar, which will be parallel to the existing rail-cumroad bridge. Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation is doing extremely good job and making bridges of confidence, said Yadav.

May 18th, 2012, 02:29 PM	#1468
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...w/13237019.cms Patna University plans paperless exams from next session PATNA: Patna University (PU), under its modernization plan, is likely to introduce paperless examinations for its different courses from the next academic session. The university has already introduced computerized evaluation of answer books of degree examinations this year. PU vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said the university was contemplating to have a large hi-fi examination hall with a seating capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 so that examinees could be accommodated in batches. Each seat at the examination hall would be fitted with an iPad for examinees to write the answers. The iPad would record the answers which would be later uploaded on PU's computer system for the purpose of evaluation, he said. The introduction of computerized examination and evaluation would not only minimize the quantum of manual work but also expedite timely publication of results. Besides, there would be complete transparency in the system, the VC said. From the current examination season itself, PU has introduced computerized evaluation of answer books of Degree Part I Honours examinations in arts, science and commerce streams. The university has signed an MoU with a Bangalore-based firm 'Mind Logic' for the purpose. The company has installed large scanners and sufficient number of computers to facilitate the scanning and evaluation of answer books. PU computer centre in charge K P Singh said all the coded answer books of examinees were being scanned and uploaded on computers. Examiners having their own codes would be handed over the computers for evaluation. As soon as the examiner enters his code, he would be able to access the answer books of the paper he is supposed to evaluate. The examiner would be required just to evaluate the answer book of examinees and enter the marks for every answer. He need not do the totalling work, which would be done by the computer. The results would be published within two to three days of evaluation of answer books, Singh said. Moreover, the evaluated answer books would be displayed on the PU's website so that students could see them if they so desire. This would bring in more transparency and even the examiners would do their work more sincerely, the VC said. PU also plans to introduce virtual classes from the next session. Under this scheme, a student of B N College or Magadh Mahila College can attend the lecture delivered by a teacher of Patna Science College through networking. The process of networking is already on in different colleges and postgraduate departments of the PU.

May 18th, 2012, 02:30 PM	#1469
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	Patna University currently lacks basic facilities. I am in favour of paperless examinations but am sceptical. We have to see what happens on the ground. Otherwise, higher education sector in Bihar is very bad condition currently.

May 18th, 2012, 02:34 PM	#1470
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	The only solution is to invite private players like Manipal, Symbiosis, VIT and get them to run or manage or set up new institutions in the State. There can be a precondition about hiring locals/local students.

May 18th, 2012, 02:37 PM	#1471
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/13237273.cms Mercedes-Benz eyes market in Bihar PATNA: What Pune in Maharashtra was ten years ago, Patna is today. That is the perception of the world's premier car manufacturing giant, Mercedes-Benz, from Germany. And, accordingly, it has decided to open its showroom for its luxury cars here to cater to its potential up-market clients. "Our showroom to market three of our luxury car brands (C, E and S class) would be ready here by the end of this year," said Mercedes-Benz corporate communications manager Ghazal Javed on Thursday, adding that 300 potential customers of the up-market luxury cars brought out by the Pune-based plant of the German car giant would gather at the Patna Golf Club on Friday to have a full view of these cars. Also on display would be other car brands of the company brought here from Germany. "From our showroom, customers would also be able to purchase built-in car brands which would be imported," Ghazal said. Ghazal, who belongs to Patna and had her higher education in Mumbai after completing her schooling from St Joseph's Convent High School ten years ago, said that Patna, for that matter, Bihar, had definitely changed for the better in the last seven years, so much so that investors from various area of activities have been showing active interest in the state with a view to tapping its existing and future market potential. "It is in this backdrop that we have planned to open our showroom here," she said. Even though the price of the Mercedes-Benz luxury cars is 10% higher than the luxury cars of other brands, the company is of the view that its clients at Patna and in different parts of Bihar would fall for them owing to its brand equity, Ghazal said. Incidentally, as she said, Patna already has around 15 Mercedes-Benz luxury cars and buses on its roads. According to her, Mercedes-Benz started its plant at Pune at an investment of Rs 6,005 crore in 1995 to manufacture the three brands of its luxury cars, and has been producing 15,000 cars per year. Last year, it sold 7,500 cars, while in the first quarter of this year it had already sold 2,200 of them. She added that hitherto, the market for the Mercedes-Benz cars in India lay in Delhi, Mumbai, and Punjab. However, the car manufacturing giant has started eyeing the tier-II and tier-III cities, including Jabalpur, Kota and Patna, in the country, where the next big real market (60% of the total market) for its luxury cars lies. "Earlier, only pockets of the country developed. Today, we can say for sure that India is developing," Ghazal said adding that the "mood assessment of the 300 potential customers on Friday would help us in effective planning of the future."

May 18th, 2012, 02:38 PM	#1472
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	The question is, in 10 years time, will Patna be the next Pune or Bangalore?

May 18th, 2012, 03:29 PM	#1473
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13237546.cms Glitch hits Chhapra engineering college, Katihar polytechnic PATNA: The pre-announced start of the first session of the government engineering college at Chhapra and polytechnic based at Katihar from July this year has been hit by unforeseen glitch, as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has not yet given its approval to the two new institutions. During their recent visit to Delhi early this month, science and technology department director Shribhagwan Singh, accompanied by assistant director Anant Kumar, pleaded with the AICTE for the early grant of its approval so that the first session of the two institutions could be started as per the schedule. However, the AICTE did not make its mind clear. "Everything is all right -- sab thik thaak hai. We expect the AICTE approval tomorrow, or day after tomorrow, or any day after that. Their attitude is positive," said Singh, adding: "Yet, any delay on the part of the AICTE in granting its letter of approval (LoA) to the two institutions could also jeopardize the start of their first session." The department, in the circumstances, would like the AICTE approval to come before the start of the counselling of students for admission in engineering colleges, which, as per the schedule, is to commence from the first week of June. "If the AICTE LoA comes after counselling, then there will be the real problem for admission of students in the two new institutions. We, at best, are hopeful AICTE would heed our pleas and take note of our peculiar situation," Singh added. The glitch, however, has occurred due to certain clauses of the AICTE norms for the grant of its approval which any new institution has to comply with. On the face of it, as the officials of the department put it, the norms have been so set and designed that they mainly address the cases of engineering colleges, polytechnics and other related institutions opened in the private sector, where admission fees are high. The AICTE norms, by and large, do not address the cases of such institutions opened or started in the public or government sector at low admission fees -- like the admission fee of Rs 10 per month charged on students of engineering colleges in the state, since they have to address problems of students hailing from diverse classes of families. Among the few salient norms include demand for financial statement from the manager of the bank that holds the account of the institution, affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper, certificate issued by architect of the buildings on the campus, details of accounts of the income and expenditure for three years duly audited by chartered accountant, and annual allotment of Rs 4 lakh for subscription of international science journal, among a few others.

May 18th, 2012, 03:35 PM	#1474
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	This year, 70,000 students sat for the Bihar CET. In a few years it will reach 1,00,000. The Bihar government should have a dream: that no student from Bihar will have to go outside Bihar for higher education. There should be so many colleges in Bihar that not a single student has to leave the state for higher education. In fact, every state in india should have such plentiful employment and education opportunities that migrating anywhere will not be neccessary at all.

May 18th, 2012, 03:37 PM	#1475
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ancer-sansthan Update on aryabhatta university: However, Singh ruled out allowing private or deemed universities to set up campuses in the sate. "The government has set up Aryabhatta Knowledge University under an Act in 2008 for quality control and brought all medical and engineering colleges in the state under its umbrella as far as their syllabus and exams are concerned. It has also been allocated over Rs 50 crore for its building to be constructed on a 10-acre land near Mithapur Bus Stand. The government will bear a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 2 crore on its functioning," he said.

May 20th, 2012, 01:13 PM	#1479
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13309900.cms Godrej Agrovet to invest Rs 60 crore in Bihar PATNA: Eminent industrialist and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) president, Adi B Godrej, on Saturday, said his firm, Godrej Agrovet, would invest Rs 60 crore in Bihar to set up an animal and poultry feed project at Hajipur with a capacity of 2.5 lakh tonnes. Godrej said Bihar was a priority state for the CII as it had achieved one of the fastest growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the country. He said Bihar was enjoying a good reputation in terms of governance and progress. During his power point presentation here, Godrej said that economic reforms, early implementation of goods and services tax (GST) and good governance could accelerate the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate by 2% to take it to over 9%, against the targeted 7.5%, in fiscal 2012-13. Indian economy would be buoyant thereafter, he said. Explaining the CII theme to 'Revive growth through reforms and governance', Godrej said his discussion with deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi regarding early introduction of the GST was positive. Modi heads the committee of states' finance ministers for implementation of GST. "We need faster reforms combined with good governance, effective decision-making and quick clearance of projects," he said, adding that the CII would help push the growth rate by facilitating development process in the country. He favoured foreign direct investment (FDI) in different sectors, including retail. Godrej said CII would extend help to both central and state governments and interact with opposition parties to accelerate the reform process to galvanize the economy, which would reduce the effect of current global slowdown. The CII would try to persuade the opposition parties to support legislations in parliament for ushering in economic reforms, he said. The issue of Lokpal and Lokayuktas apart, governance was very important, Godrej said, adding that CII would work for development in power, mineral, infrastructure and other sectors. He said that 40-50 major infrastructure projects needed to be pushed through. CII's major role would be to work with states for development and Bihar was on its priority list, he said. CII, he said, would constitute a task force to work with Bihar government to help in catalysing growth of private industries in the state. Bihar needed skill development besides development of agriculture, food and power to surge ahead. He said the deputy chief minister was impressed with CII's work for facilitating development in the state. However, Godrej said big industrial investments would not come overnight to the state. CII would give exposure to its members about investment opportunities in Bihar, but they would have to take their own decision, he said. Godrej said he would facilitate meeting of senior leaders of the government with industrialists in Kolkata, Mumbai and other places, regarding investment in Bihar. He said Bihar has a large market being the third most populous state in the country.

May 20th, 2012, 01:16 PM	#1480
Cosmicbliss Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,295 Likes (Received): 50	http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/...ff_776508.html Patna's own Marine Drive project set to take off Patna: Eight construction companies, including Gammon, Nagarjun and Reliance, have shown keenness to construct the proposed 40-km driveway along the banks of the Ganga river in Patna modelled on Mumbai's Marine Drive, officials said on Sunday. Eight companies have submitted quotations for the Rs 2,234.46 crore project, said an official of the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd. Bihar Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav told a news agency here that the government would select the company by June. "We hope to start construction work by next year and the project would be completed by 2016," he said. Last year, the union finance ministry and the Planning Commission cleared the project. In the first phase, the driveway will connect Digha and Didarganj, a stretch of 21 km, and in the second phase, it will go to Fatuha, a distance of 18 km. About seven km of the road will run on an elevated platform. Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, had first proposed such a driveway in Patna, said a retired engineer associated with construction of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu here.