Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated 146 development projects worth Rs 13.28 billion during his ‘Pragati Yatra’, urging officials to accelerate the region’s progress. The projects span multiple sectors, including 18 smart city initiatives, six schemes for the building department, 32 for rural development, and several others covering road construction, health, and SC/ST welfare. Additionally, Kumar laid the foundation stone for 63 new projects, with 35 dedicated to rural development. During his visit, he launched key initiatives at Bihar Agricultural University in Sabour, including a Rs 720 million Agriculture Biotechnology building and two laboratories costing Rs 290 million. At Bahadurpur High School in Barari panchayat, he inaugurated new sports facilities and proposed infrastructure projects such as an interstate bus stand, a railway overbridge at Ishakchak, an integrated command and control center, and a Samiksha Bhawan for project monitoring. Kumar further announced plans for a sports complex in Naugachia, a cancer treatment facility at JLNMCH, a check dam on the Goriari river, and a greenfield airport. Addressing Bhagalpur’s need for better air connectivity, he stated that the state government would request the Centre to introduce small-capacity flights under the UDAN scheme. (newsonprojects)