Patna Projects Thread

[World8115]

किलर का एक और शोरूम
Dainil Jagran e-paper

बोरिंग रोड स्थित लक्ष्मी कांप्लेक्स में गुरुवार को अग्रणी डेनिम ब्रांड किलर का शोरूम सिद्धी विनायक खुला। इसका उद्घाटन अशोक कुमार गोयनका ने किया। मौके पर शोरूम प्रोपराइटर विकास कुमार और कंपनी के प्रतिनिधि सचिन भी उपस्थित थे। मौके पर विकास ने बताया कि किलर ब्रांड के सभी तरह के परिधान यहां उपलब्ध हैं। कंपनी के प्रतिनिधि सचिन ने बताया कि किलर ब्रांड अब विदेशों में भी पहुंच चुका है। देश में भी किलर स्टोर एवं के -लॉज की पहले से ही मजबूत स्थित है। के -लॉज शोरूमों में कंपनी किलर, लॉमैन, पेज-3, इंटीग्रिटी एवं इयासिस ब्रांड उपलब्ध हैं। ये ब्रांड पुरुषों के साथ ही महिलाओं के लिए भी उपलब्ध हैं।

[World8115]

पटना जंक्शन पर ‘मे आई हेल्प यू’
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आप रात के समय पटना जंक्शन पर उतरते हैं और आपको अपने घर या रिश्तेदार के यहां जाना है रास्ते का पता नहीं। काई बात नहीं अब पटना पुलिस, आपको वहां तक पहुंचाने में मदद करेगी।

पटना पुलिस द्वारा गुरुवार से यह व्यवस्था पटना जंक्शन के बाहर महावीर मंदिर के पास शुरू की गई है। सिटी एसपी मनु महाराज ने विधिवत इसका उद्घाटन किया। यात्रियों एवं अनजान लोगों की इसकी सुविधा रात के 9 बजे से सुबह 6 बजे तक मिलेगी। इसमें तीन पुलिसकर्मी तैनात रहेंगे।

पुलिसकर्मी यात्रियों को रात के समय सही रूट की जानकारी देंगे और ऑटो पर बिठाएगें। उन्हें मे आई हेल्प यू लिखा हुआ एक कार्ड भी दिया जाएगा, जिसमें पटना के वरीय पुलिस अधिकारी समेत कोतावाली थाना प्रभारी का नंबर अंकित होगा।

इसके बाद भी अगर यात्री के साथ कुछ गलत होता है तो ऑटो चालक से पुछताछ के बाद अपराधियों की जन्मकुंडली खंगाल ली जाएगी। गुरुवार को ही कोतवाली थाना परिसर में जन शिकायत कोषांग का गठन किया गया। यहां लोग अपना आवेदन दो पन्नों में देंगे।

पहला पन्ना आवेदनकर्ता को मुहर लगाकर वापस कर दिया जायेगा। उसपर काम हो जाने की तिथि भी लिख दी जायेगी। इस कोषांग में दो पुलिसकर्मी तैनात किए गये हैं। सिटी एसपी मनु महाराज ने बताया कि इससे बाहर से आये यात्रियों को काफी सुविधा होगी।

[World8115]

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Chief minister Nitish Kumar will flag off two passenger trains on January 25 at a simple function to be held at Patna Junction on Tuesday. The two trains Patna-Sasaram passenger train (53659-53660) and Darbhanga-Mumbai Krambhoomi Lokmanya Tilak Express (12545-12546) would be flagged off by Nitish through remote control system at 3 pm. The railways is making elaborate arrangements to make this function a success, sources said.

According to Danapur rail division PRO Ranjit Kumar Singh, these two new trains were announced in the current fiscal by railway minister Mamata Banerjee. While the Patna-Sasaram passenger train will run via Ara daily, the Darbhanga-Mumbai Krambhoomi Lokmanya Tilak Express will run via Patna weekly. Both the trains will have full load combination of bogies to cater to the needs of passengers, he said.

The PRO said while the Patna-Sasaram passenger train will have the load combination of 10 bogies, Darbhanga-Mumbai Krambhoomi Lokmanya Tilak Express will have load combination of 15 bogies, including 13 sleepers. It will run every Thursday from Darbhanga at 8.35 pm reaching Mumbai on Saturday morning at 6.15 am. On its return, it will leave Mumbai on every Monday at 11.20 am, he said.

According to sources, though railways has started issuing tickets to passengers by this long distance train, its regular service will start from Mumbai on January 31 and on February 3 from Darbhanga. This besides, another new train Jaynagar-Ranchi will also be flagged off the same day from Ranchi by Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, the sources said.

The sources said the railway ministry recently issued directives to all railway zones to ensure introduction of all new passenger trains announced by the railway minister in the 2010-2011 railway budget. These trains were awaiting their formal introduction in ECR.

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Bihar government is mulling over aproposal to construct 4000 sq ft each duplex accommodationsfor the 243 MLAs and 75 MLCs with an estimated expense of Rs275 crore, a move which being seen as an attempt to mollify the law-makers after scrapping Local Area Development Funds.

According to a proposal brought before Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently, state Building and Housing department has planned to construct the duplex accommodations for all the MLAs and MLCs for which consultants have been roped in.

The department proposes to have all latest facilities with a club, community centre, a transit hostel, community centre, gym, shopping complex and swimming pool for the law-makers, the department sources said.

The department would make a final presentation before Chief Minister before seeking sanction for construction of the project, they said.

Altogether 325 bungalows would be proposed to be constructed at three adjoining places at R Block, Daroga Prasad Rai Path and Beerchand Patel Marg.

Eeach legislators'' house is expected to cost Rs 62.78lakh while two hostels would cost Rs 2.50 crore.

The officials of the building construction department and experts of a new delhi based private consultancy service had shown the details of the project to Kumar, sources confirmed.

It has been proposed to raze to ground all the existing legislators'' houses at R block, Daroga rai path and Birchand Patel path to pave the way for the new construction.

The entire stretch of MLA flats numbering from 1 to 168would be taken in the first phase, whereas in the second phase, MLA flats situated in R Block and the Government houses located behind the circuit house on Serpentine Road would be included.

When contacted, the Building department secretary Sudhir Kumar said the final decision on the location of the project would be taken soon, but the architectural design of the duplex housing project was ready.

Security aspects would also be taken care of during the construction of the new project, he said.

[World8115]

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Chief minister Nitish Kumar has urged railway minister Mamata Banerjee to introduce Duronto trains in Bihar.

Kumar made the demand while flagging off two new trains, Patna-Sasaram daily passenger (53659- 53660) and Darbhanga-Patna-Mumbai weekly Karmabhoomi Express (12545 -12546), at a function at Patna Junction on Tuesday. He said though the railway network has spread in Bihar, the number of passengers has also increased during the past few years. "Passengers' requirements need to be fulfilled. Bihar urgently needs Duronto trains and I would urge the railway minister to consider this demand while preparing the railway budget for 2011-12," he said.

Reiterating the state's demand for the Patna-Digha line for its conversion into a four-lane road, Kumar said though the railway minister has in principle agreed to hand over the land to the state government, the matter has been hanging fire. The construction of four-lane roads on the route would decongest traffic in the city after the Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge is commissioned, he added.

Assuring the railways of all assistance from the state, Kumar said people must cooperate with railways for smoothly running trains. "Disrupting railway traffic or damaging railways' property is a crime. Railways is the national property which must be protected," he said.

Incidentally, the Patna-Ara-Sasaram line was sanctioned when Kumar was the railway minister.

ECR GM K K Srivastava welcomed the guests while Danapur DRM Gyan Prakash Srivastava extended a vote of thanks.

[World8115]

पटना से सासाराम को चली सवारी गाड़ी
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मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार के हरी झंडी दिखाते ही मंगलवार को पटना जंक्शन से वाया आरा होते हुये सासाराम के लिए फास्ट सवारी गाड़ी चल पड़ी। मुख्यमंत्री ने यहीं से रिमोट के जरिए साप्ताहिक कर्मभूमि एक्सप्रेस का भी शुभारंभ किया। कर्मभूमि एक्सप्रेस 261 रुपये के टिकट पर दरभंगा से पटना होते हुये लोकमान्य तिलक टर्मिनल के लिए रवाना हुई।

इस अवसर पर आयोजित समारोह में रेलवे के जीएम की ओर मुखातिब होते हुए मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि रेलमंत्री ममता बनर्जी पटना-दीघा रेल खंड की जमीन राज्य सरकार को देने पर सहमति दे चुकी है। अब आपके स्तर पर विलंब क्यों हो रहा है। विलंब नहीं होना चाहिए। रेलवे के पास जमीन की कमी नहीं है, फिर भी बदले में हम आपको जमीन देने को तैयार हैं। दीघा-पटना रेलखंड पर कोई यात्रा नहीं करता है। उसपर चौड़ी सड़क का निर्माण करना है।

मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि रेलमंत्री ममता बनर्जी को पत्र लिखकर बजट में बिहार के लिए नयी रेलगाड़ियों व योजनाओं की मांग करेंगे। रेलवे को बिहार के लिए लगातार सोचना होगा। यहां यात्रियों की संख्या में लगातार वृद्धि हो रही है। उन्होंने बजट में घोषित गाड़ियों को चालू कराने के लिए ममता बनर्जी को धन्यवाद दिया।

मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि रेलवे राष्ट्र की संपत्ति है। लोग अपना गुस्सा उतारकर रेल परिचालन को बाधित न करें। नवीनगर के लोगों ने रेल डिब्बे और इंजन में आग लगाकर राष्ट्रीय संपत्ति को नुकसान पहुंचाया है। रेलवे को नुकसान पहुंचाना बड़ा अपराध है। उन्होंने रेल अधिकारियों को हिदायत दी कि वे कमाई के साथ ट्रेनों की सफाई और समय पर भी ध्यान दें।

मुख्यमंत्री ने पूर्व रेल मंत्री लालू प्रसाद के नाम लिये बगैर कहा कि सुना था पटना जंक्शन विश्वस्तरीय स्टेशन बनेगा। रेल अधिकारियों से स्वरूप के बारे में जानना चाहा तो वे हमसे ही इसकी जानकारी लेने लगे। घोषणा ऐसी होनी चाहिए जो संभव हो । स्वागत भाषण देते हुये पूर्व मध्य रेल के महाप्रबंधक केके अग्रवाल ने कहा कि पटना से सासाराम दैनिक सवारी गाड़ी और कर्मभूमि एक्सप्रेस चलने से यात्रियों को लाभ मिलेगा। कर्मभूमि एक्सप्रेस प्रत्येक गुरुवार को दरभंगा व लोकमान्य तिलक से प्रत्येक सोमवार को खुलेगी।

[World8115]

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Adding to its legacy of heritage and knowledge, the city recently got its first branch of nationally acclaimed Shemford School. These "futuristic" schools are run by India's pre-school chain, Shemrock.

Inaugurating the school at a colourful function at Patliputra Colony here, Shemrock executive director Meenal Arora said that the school aimed at creating a vibrant and child-friendly system by unique in-house research-based school system, which integrates conducive learning environment, innovative curriculum, engaging teaching methods and personalised assessment.

Shemford director Sandeep Ranjan said the children of Patna would get the country's best school system and the stress-free methodology of teaching would be well received by parents. School executive director Pulak Sharma said that each primary classroom has been equipped with large interactive touch screen boards. School principal Sagarika Mukherji welcomed the guests.

Aryabhat Knowledge University VC S N Guha and Patna University teachers K V Srinivasan, Deb Mukherji, Satish Kumar Sinha and Shankar Ashish Dutt were present on the occasion.

[World8115]

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Chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the newly installed high energy linear accelerator machine at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan (MCS) here on Friday. He also observed the demonstration of the machine which was imported from the UK at the cost of Rs 10 crore for treating cancer patients.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Nitish lauded the role of the MCS in treating cancer patients. He announced that the state government would give a grant of Rs 5 crore to the MCS to upgrade the linear accelerator machine for treating patients, particularly those suffering from brain tumour.

"The linear accelerator plant would prove to be a boon for cancer patients. The government is serious about providing proper healthcare to the people of the state. The government has been extending financial assistance to all patients whose annual income is less than Rs 1 lakh. This facility is available to cancer patients undergoing treatment at the MCS," Nitish said.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction that the MCS has gradually become a centre for cancer patients, particularly the poor, who visit this hospital from other states. He said that the government gives top priority to healthcare. "Only healthy youths can ensure fast development of the state," he said.

People's longevity has also increased due to better healthcare facilities available in district hospitals of the state, Nitish said. He, however, cautioned young doctors not to forget medical ethics while treating patients.

Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts chairman Acharya Kishore Kunal said that the MCS had flourished with the help of charity and offerings at the Mahavir temple. The trust has raised the annual budget of the MCS for purchasing medicines from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, he said.

Principal secretary (health) Amarjit Sinha said that the child death rate had come down in Bihar due to better medicare facilities available at each block and district-level hospital. Earlier, MCS director Dr J K Singh highlighted the achievements of the hospital.

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Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group, expanded their operations in Bihar with the inauguration of a dealership outlet of DCS Ashok Leyland at Patna (Bihar). A recently appointed dealership, DCS Ashok Leyland’s facility is spread over 43,000 sq ft with six service bays and conveniently located on NH30. This is another significant step by Ashok Leyland towards the development of the Eastern market.

In Bihar, the Company is present through three dealer outlets supplemented by three Authorised Service Centers with another dealer outlet slated to commence operations at Purnea in the next three months. With the addition of this new facility, customers now have the assurance of after sales support across the whole of Bihar. The present Eastern network comprises 29 dealer outlets and 21 ASCs. With the ramping up of the world-class manufacturing facility at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, the Company is better placed to promptly and adequately meet the demands from the Eastern and Northern regions.

“The TatkaAL promise of reaching a customer within 4 hours anywhere on the Golden Quadrilateral or on the North-South, East-West corridors with restoration in 48 hours is a measure of our enhanced customer service support,” said Mr. Rajive Saharia, Executive Director – Marketing, Ashok Leyland. “In case of any delay, we are ready to pay a penalty of Rs. 1,000 per day,” he added. The Company has trained and developed over 16,000 mechanics and nearly 5,400 retailers across the country of which 1,952 mechanics and 814 retailers are in the Eastern region.

Speaking about Ashok Leyland’s growing presence, Saharia said, “In the Eastern Region, we have grown 48% by volume in last two years. 2010-11 has been even better for us with a 3% MS growth in H1 over 2009-10. Our 12 wheeler, 8x2 Multi-Axle Vehicle (MAV) models viz. 3116il/xl, 3118xp/xl are fast gaining acceptance among customers for their fuel efficiency, reliable performance and rugged aggregates. We have sold more than 150 nos. which constitutes 55% of our total truck volume in this region,” he concluded.

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Heavy vehicles major Ashok Leyland, a Hinduja group flagship company, today announced the opening of its new dealer outlet at Patna in Bihar.
With the addition, DCS Ashok Leyland, customers now have the assurance of after sales support across Bihar, Chennai-based Ashok Leyland said in a statement here.

Currently, Ashok Leyland in Bihar has three dealer outlets supplemented by three authorised service centres. In the Eastern region as a whole, the company has 29 dealer outlets and 21 authorised service centres.

"In the Eastern region, we have grown 48 per cent by volume in last two years. 2010-11 has been even better for us...We have sold more than 150 units of which 55 per cent constitute trucks in this region...," Ashok Leyland Executive Director-Marketing Rajive Saharia said.

With the ramping up of the manufacturing facility at Pant Nagar in Uttarakhand, the company was well poised to meet the demands from the Eastern and Northern markets, the statement added.

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In the light of a Supreme Court (SC) direction, an eight-member joint inspection team inspected the 25 night shelters in the state capital on January 24. The team found the condition of these shelters had considerably improved.

The team comprised Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Manish Kumar, PMC additional commissioner Chandrma Singh, Shashank Shekhar Singh, Shyam Kishore Singh, Chandrashekhar Narayan, all PMC executive officers, and three PUCL members.

The apex court had, in a PUCL versus Union of India and others case (CWJC 196/2001), directed the Bihar government in July last year to set up a joint committee to inspect these shelters in the state after the petitioner through various photographs contested the state government s claims that it was running 51 such shelters across the state as per norms. The petitioner, on the other hand, had maintained the shelters were not constructed as per the prescribed norms and their capacity too did not meet the norms.

Standing counsel for state of Bihar Gopal Singh had informed the court that he would take up the matter with the Bihar chief secretary and ensure that all the 51 shelters are upgraded with basic amenities. In December last year, he had prayed for two weeks time to augment the facilities at the shelters.

The court, in its order, said that the Bihar government should appreciate the intense cold weather in the northern part of India playing havoc with the poor shelterless people and must upgrade these shelters on priority basis. The court had granted two weeks' time to ensure that all shelters are erected in accordance with the prescribed norms and an affidavit to this effect be filed by the chief secretary of the state of Bihar.

The team found that the state government had improved the condition of shelters to an extent, but still there were problems which pertained mainly to provision of safe drinking water, toilets and water supply, said inspection team member Ranjan Kumar Singh of PUCL. The team report has been submitted to the SC.

Bihar urban development minister Prem Kumar said that condition of the night shelters had improved a lot which had been affirmed by the team.

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Several programmes were held here on Sunday, including recitation of bhajans and prayers on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary which is observed across the country as Martyr's Day. Chief minister Nitish Kumar attended a programme at Gandhi Sangrahalaya.

The CM, who went around the Sangrahalaya, one of the six centres in the country established to propagate the Gandhian thoughts in 1967, announced to help the centre in implementing its various projects.

Nitish declared that the state government would consider providing a fund to the Sangrahalaya. "I have directed the principal secretary, HRD, to bring a proposal before the cabinet for approval," he said, while addressing a meeting. He praised sangrahalaya secretary Razi Ahmad for his dedication in imparting Gandhian thoughts. He also appreciated the scheme for construction of a Shanti Stupa in the backyard of the premises, which he also inspected.

The CM donated a Gandhi statue to the Sangrahalaya. Last year, the HRD department held a competition in which this statue was adjudged the best. The statue has been installed at the entrance of the Sangrahalaya library.

Nitish said the Gandhian thoughts were still very relevant and no sustained development could be achieved without following Gandhi's path. "World peace, social harmony and brotherhood is the essence of Gandhi's preaching," he added.

Earlier, Nitish, accompanied by information and public relations minister Brishen Patel, HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and Kusumben Nanavati, the adopted daughter of Acharya Kaka Kalelkar, whose 125th birth anniversary is being held from December 2009 to 2011, listened to all-religion prayers and bhajans for over an hour.

In the morning, the CM and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to Gandhi at Gandhi Ghat and observed two minutes silence. Later on, he inspected the Ghat and its surrounding and directed Patna DM Jeetendra Kumar Sinha and the managing director of tourism department to take steps to beautify it further.

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The recent move of chief minister Nitish Kumar to seek the R-Block-Digha Ghat railway land from the railways to build a four-lane road has evoked a mixed response from technical experts of the railways. Most of them feel the 147-year-old tracks should not be dismantled.

According to these experts, since the road traffic in Patna has almost reached a saturation point, the railway traffic is the only alternative mode of transportation in and around the state capital. Besides, the situation will become more difficult when the Digha-Sonepur railway bridge is commissioned in 2012-2013. The railways will have to work out in advance its plan to cope with the unprecedented rush of traffic flow. The Digha-Patna Ghat railway line would be the only option as an important interchange point for various streams of traffic, they said.

The Digha-Patna Ghat should be developed as a circular railway or ring railway link service on the pattern of Kolkata or Delhi to cater to the needs of the common people. Instead of dismantling the old tracks, the railways and the state government must work out a common programme to improve the traffic system in Patna. This track could be used to run metro rail service in future, said former railway chief engineer G N Sahay.

Old timers said that George V had visited India in 1905. After him, Lord Hardinge visited Bankipore (Patna Junction). He had got the Patna-Gaya line constructed in early 1900 and then it was directly linked to Delhi via Gaya and Mughalsarai. The Hardinge Park was established for the evening stroll of Lord Hardinge.

Lord Hardinge had an opportunity to travel by a special train known as East India Railway (EIR) on the Patna-Digha line in early 1900. A special platform was built at the Hardinge railway platform to accommodate the plush saloon of Lord Hardinge. The Patna-Digha line had then covered a total distance of 10 km from the Hardinge Park. The old Patna was linked to Malsalami (Patna City) in the late 1800 to carry goods there. A direct link was then established between Digha Ghat and Patna Ghat.

However, the mainline link from Bankipore to Mughalsarai was established in 1920-1921, sources said, adding that such an old rail link should be used for spreading railway network in the state capital instead of removing it.

Incidentally, a feasibility study undertaken by the railways about six months back said the Patna Ghat-Digha Ghat rail link has no traffic volume. There is hardly one pair of DMUs running on this track. Due to lack of adequate safety measures, this line has become vulnerable to mishaps these days. The DMUs have been running almost empty from one end to another. As such, conversion of this line into a four-lane road would cut down the huge traffic rush in future, the sources added, quoting the feasibility study report.

[World8115]

ऐतिहासिक स्थल नो होर्डिग जोन घोषित
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अब गांधी मैदान सहित शहर के तमाम ऐतिहासिक स्थानों पर किसी प्रकार की होर्डिग नहीं लगेगी। पटना नगर निगम ने ऐतिहासिक स्थलों को नो होर्डिग जोन घोषित कर दिया है। अब इन इलाकों में विज्ञापन या अन्य किसी तरह की होर्डिग लगाने वाले दंडित किये जायेंगे।

विदित हो कि शहर के ऐतिहासिक स्थलों को विज्ञापन एजेंसियों ने तरह-तरह की होर्डिगों से पाट दिया है। जिसकी वजह से इनकी सुंदरता प्रभावित होती है। इसे देखने आने वालों को भी निराशा होती है। इस अभियान की शुरुआत बुद्ध स्मृति पार्क से की गई है। निगमायुक्त मनीष कुमार ने इसे नो होर्डिग जोन घोषित कर दिया है। इसके बाद अब कुम्हरार पार्क, जादूघर, गोलघर, चिड़ियाघर, जेपी गोलंबर व कुवंर सिंह गोलंबर को इस श्रेणी में शामिल किया जायेगा।

[World8115]

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The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) will be soon introduce an online payment system with a view to streamline the collection of holding tax in the city.

The step has been contemplated to facilitate payment of holding tax in Patna further. There has been a spurt in the number of internet users in the city in recent times. Once implemented, this system will enable holding tax payers to file their taxes easily," PMC commissioner Manish Kumar said.

Inadequate number of holding tax collectors coupled with a few other obstacles often leaves the PMC with inadequate revenue collection with regard to holding tax.

There are about 70,000 holdings (houses) under PMC's New Capital Circle (NCC). But the circle has only 45 holding tax collectors. "The holding tax revenue collection target of NCC is Rs 18 crore in the current fiscal. Sadly, in the past 10 months collection has not been much encouraging," a senior PMC official said.

"The online system will be a boon for NCC area as well as the entire PMC," said a holding tax collector of NCC area. The official believes that due to the lengthy process of manual holding tax payment, some tax payers shy away from it.

The problem of the inadequate number of holding tax collectors hits PMC more than its NCC area. The municipal body has about 1.2 lakh holdings and only 90 holding tax collectors.

To make it easy for property tax payers to pay their holding tax, the PMC recently opened Citizen Civic Centres at all its four circle offices — Kankarbagh Circle, Bankipur circle, NCC, Patna City circle and Maurya Lok shopping complex.

"The online payment system will be applied on the pattern introduced by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The PMC will develop and deploy a robust server system to execute the heavy load. This will ease the excessive burden from few functionaries and make it more people-friendly," an official said.

The PMC has also drafted proposals to invite cooperation from banks in this regard. A senior officer informed TOI: "As per plan, the online tax filing facility will also be available at all Citizen Civic Centres."
According to PMC sources, the target to collect holding tax in the current fiscal is Rs 35 crore. The collection of property tax revenue has rarely been more than 50 per cent of the set target.

[World8115]

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A 3-bedroom flat with a super built-up area of 1,500 sqft in an apartment under construction at Phulwarisharif is up for sale for Rs 52.5 lakh! Another 3-bedroom flat of 1,750 sqft in Doctors' Colony at Kankarbagh is on sale for an identical sum!

These eye-popping prices have been quoted in an online ad. Have realty prices in Patna reached the levels of tier-1 cities? "Well, almost," says Prabhat Kumar, a city-based corporate manager.

Prabhat should know. For, he himself scouted for a flat in an apartment in Noida recently. "I finally homed in on a township being developed by a multi-thousand crore corporate group. Flats in this 1100-acre township on the outskirts of Delhi were available at prices that compare favourably with Patna prices. While one type of 815-sqft apartment was available for a starting price of Rs 39 lakh, another type of 935-sqft flat cost Rs 34 lakh and yet another 850-sqft flat Rs 27 lakh."

However, Prabhat is not complaining about high prices in Patna. In fact, he has benefited immensely from the realty boom in Bihar capital. He owns a 1300-sqft flat in Boring Road area, just behind Krishna Apartment, which he bought in 2007 for approximately Rs 15 lakh at the rate of Rs 1,150 per sqft. "Now", he says smilingly, "flats in the area are available at nothing less than Rs 3,500 per sqft." At this rate, his flat commands a price of about Rs 40 lakh, a cool gain of 150% in three years!

Kalyan Ghosh is also patting his back for purchasing a 990-sqft flat in 2004 for Rs 8 lakh in Boring Road area. "From what I hear from others, the present value of my property would be anywhere between Rs 30 lakh and 35 lakh," he says.

A recent study, jointly done by The Economic Times and realty website MagicBricks, too shows that real estate prices have touched the sky in Patna. According to this study, affordable and premium- category flats in Rajendra Nagar are available for Rs 3,500 per sqft and Rs 4,500 per sqft respectively; in Boring Road area for Rs 3,500 per sqft and Rs 6,000 per sqft respectively; and in New Pataliputra Colony for Rs 3,000 per sqft and Rs 4,500 per sqft respectively. In less-coveted areas like Bailey Road, flats of the two categories are being bought and sold for Rs 3,000 per sqft and Rs 5,500 per sqft respectively; on Patna bypass for Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per sqft respectively; and near Saguna Mor for Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per sqft respectively.

However, realtor Rakesh Kumar says that the distinction between affordable and premium categories has virtually evaporated in the city. "Non-availability of enough land is driving up realty prices," he says.

"In fact", he says, "real estate market is down. The number of customers is down as rates have reached elevated levels. Most of the flats on sale are in the price range of Rs 25-Rs 30 lakh. The demand is mostly from contractors, government officials, doctors, those in the field of education and jewellers. The present rates may be unsustainable and I feel that the realty market may fall in the coming days."

Another builder, preferring anonymity, says in Rajendranagar and along Boring Canal Road and Boring Road, which are well developed, the going rate for flats is around Rs 3,500 per sqft. In adjacent areas like Maheshnagar and Nehrunagar, where roads are narrow, the going rate is between Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 per sqft."

Indeed, early birds have got the worm.

[World8115]

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If your dream home wish has dashed for price factor, blame it on encroachment of Patna Municipal Corporation land worth Rs 2,500 crore. The good news is: PMC is planning to recover them.

Even in this era of real estate boom, land owned by the civic body in upmarket localities across the city is either lying fallow or has been encroached upon by the land mafia. PMC officials and real estate businessmen claim, if these plots could be used for residential or commercial purposes, the property prices would have come down drastically.

“PMC owns about 400 acres of land in prime localities across the city. But the land mafia is in possession of much of it over the past several years. If this land can be rescued and used for commercial and residential purposes, property prices in the city will come down,” a senior corporation official told The Telegraph.

Real estate businessmen said if the government lands were made available, it would change the dynamics of the realty market.

“In places like Frazer Road, Buddha Marg and Exhibition Road, a cottah of land costs up to Rs 1 crore. Had the government plots been available, the price would have been much less,” said Nilesh Kumar Sinha, owner of Om Constructions, a city-based real estate company.

But illegal encroachments could have their days numbered, as the civic body has decided to recover all the encroached land.

“A private consultant has been appointed to study and survey the land owned by PMC. The report will be available in 10 days,” the official said. After the plots are recovered, residential and commercial projects would spring up on the places encroached now.

“Once there is a clear picture of the available land, we can plan better on how to use it. But this will take time,” the official added.

PMC commissioner Manish Kumar said a private consultant had been hired but refused to comment on future plans.

A source said the officials of the civic body were often hand in glove with the encroachers and land sharks. Some of them had allowed slums, commercial establishments and residencies to be constructed on PMC land in exchange of a pretty packet. Bakri Bazaar on Buddha Marg is a case in point, where a market has come up illegally over 4 acres of PMC land. The civic body had taken no action against the encroachers despite a high court order.

Patna High Court on February 3 reprimanded PMC and the urban development department for failing to produce the master plan for Patna. A draft of the plan was published in 2006 and it proposed a planned urban development for an area of 333.2sqkm, including Danapur, Nizamat and Danapur cantonment. But the plan is yet to see the light of day and unplanned construction continues unchecked across the state capital.
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[World8115]

Idol of Goddess Saraswati to be installed at Mahavir Mandir
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An impressive idol of Goddess Saraswati would be installed at Mahavir Mandir, Patna, on Saraswati Puja day.

Mahavir Mandir Trust secretary Kishore Kunal said that the students were demanding installation of an idol of Goddess Saraswati at the temple. He said that a five feet idol of Goddess Saraswati in sitting position with a large veena in hands and a swan by the side has arrived from Jaipur.

Kunal said made of best quality of Makrana marble, the idol would probably be the most magnificent in the state. For installation of the idol, five pandits under the headship of Pandit Datatriya Narayan Ratate have already reached Patna, he said.

Kunal said the Pran Pratistha ritual would be performed on Tuesday at 10.30 pm. All devotees, specially the students, have been invited to attend the function. Thereafter, the diety would be unveiled for darshan to the devotees, he added.

[World8115]

Multiplex in place of Ashok Cinema likely in 2 yrs
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Ashok Cinema, the movie hall touted as 'Rajdhani Ka Gaurav', has been razed to the ground to give way to a four-storeyed mall-cum-multiplex.

The hall had come up on the city's Buddha Marg in 1947. Tinsel town titans like Prithviraj Kapoor and son Raj Kapoor as well as political leaders like BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee were among those who visited the hall on different occasions.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar watched Oscar-winning 'Slumdog Millionaire' in this theatre. Movie buffs watched the last show at Ashok on December 16 last year, after which its demolition began.

'Bhoomipujan' for the mall, being developed by a realtor firm, was held on Tuesday. Sources said the mall would be constructed in an area of 1.2 lakh sqft. It would have, besides showrooms of various brands, a three-screen multiplex, a food court, a banquet hall and a fun city for children. The mall, likely to open by February 2013, would have a parking lot for 150 four-wheelers.
Ashok Cinema owner Sri Prakash Singh alias Chhote Sahab was present at the 'bhoomipujan' function.

Several other multiplexes and malls are also coming up in the city. Of them, the P&M in Pataliputra Industrial Estate area is likely to open soon.

[World8115]

IOC introduces new gas supply system
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Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has introduced a new scheme of supplying LPGLPG in the state capital, whereby cooking gas cylinders will be stored in common storage space in an apartment building and supplied to different flats through pipeline.

This system is expected to free an individual consumer from the worry of booking of gas cylinder and practically make the problem of scarcity of gas a thing of the past.

IOC senior area manager RN Dutta told TOI they had implemented the project last year itself. Residents of two apartments located in Exhibition Road area are already enjoying this facility. "Though, at present there are only a few apartments with this service, we are ready to provide this to any apartment that has sufficient storage capacity for LPG cylinders, " he said.

Under this system, each apartment will have to keep at least eight cylinders at a time. Once a cylinder gets empty, it will be replenished with a filled cylinder. Thus, continuity of gas supply will be maintained and chances of scarcity will be virtually ruled out.

To avail this system, an apartment owner will have to deposit security fees ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on the size of the building and number of flats. "Then they will have to pay as per the number of gas cylinders ordered. An individual flat owner's consumption of gas will be measured by the meter installed at each household," Dutta said.

"This step will also put a check on the pilferage of LPG and fake booking of gas cylinders. Recently, we received complaints from the rationing department regarding the pilferage of LPG cylinders by distributors," he added.

Senior rationing officer Anirudh Kumar said, "Out of a total 44 LPG distributors in Patna, seven were caught indulging in one kind of malpractice or the other. We have complained against them to their respective companies."

"If LPG gas pipelines are installed, it will be a major step forward towards controlling LPG pilferage," he said.

Besides, IOC is also set to start the facility of booking gas cylinder through SMS and interactive voice recorder system (IVRS) from April. To avail this service, a customer will have to register his mobile number first with his/her respective distributor (gas agency). Then by sending an SMS on a toll-free number, one would be able to book a cylinder. The consumer will also get a message giving information about the date and time of delivery.

The toll-free number would be provided next month and service will start by April, an IOC official said.