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BIHAR CABINET NOD FOR LAND ACQUISITION FOR and green shipping projects. Established in 2023, the IWDC
EXPANSION OF DARBHANGA, RAXUAL AIRPORTS. aims to maximize the economic potential of India’s inland water
The Bihar cabinet, in its meeting recently approved the acquisition bodies through coordinated efforts between the central and
of additional land for the expansion of Darbhanga and Raxaul state governments, fostering cooperative federalism. INFRASTRUCTURE
airports. The move is part of the state’s efforts to enhance air
connectivity and infrastructure.The cabinet approved the ANJI KHAD BRIDGE: INDIA’S FIRST CABLE-STAYED RAIL
acquisition of 89.75 acres of land, valued at `244.60 crore, for the BRIDGE
development of Darbhanga airport into an international airport. The Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, stands
Additional Chief Secretary S. Siddharth confirmed that the state as one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of
government will compensate landowners, and the land will be Indian Railways in Jammu and Kashmir. As part of the Udhampur-
transferred to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for the project. The Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, the bridge is
expansion will significantly improve air connectivity for the Mithila expected to significantly enhance connectivity to the Kashmir
region and surrounding areas. In 2024, the state government Valley, with a recent successful trial run bringing the project closer
had already transferred 76.85 acres to the AAI for the project, to its completion.
including 52 acres for a new civil enclave. The development Here are key highlights of the Anji Khad Bridge:
will feature a terminal building, cargo complex, multi-level car An Engineering Marvel: The Anji Khad Bridge is a true testament
parking, fire station, and other essential infrastructure. to modern engineering. With a pylon towering 331 meters above
Additionally, the cabinet approved the acquisition of 139 acres the riverbed, the bridge spans a total of 473.25 meters. It is
of land, valued at `207 crore, for the expansion of Raxaul airport. supported by 48 cables that ensure the structure’s stability and
This project, also overseen by the AAI, is expected to stimulate strength, making it an iconic feat in the field of infrastructure.
economic activities in the region. Part of the USBRL Project: The bridge is a critical component of
Other key approvals included the acquisition of land for industrial the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project,
parks in Vaishali and Sitamarhi districts, and the transfer of land which aims to improve rail connectivity between the Kashmir
in Chanpatia, West Champaran. The cabinet also sanctioned Rs Valley and the rest of India, further integrating the region with
2,960.48 crore for new developmental and infrastructural projects national infrastructure.
as part of the Chief Minister’s ‘Pragati Yatra.’ Successful Trial Run: A key milestone in the project was the
The transport department’s proposal for installing CCTV and successful completion of a trial run using a tower wagon on the
automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at 72 key bridge. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video
crossings in 26 districts was also approved, aimed at reducing of the trial, calling it an “engineering marvel.” The trial brings the
traffic violations. In total, 55 agendas were approved during project closer to its expected completion date, with rail services
the cabinet meeting, marking significant strides in the state’s anticipated to begin by January 2025.
infrastructure development. Advanced Monitoring System: To ensure the long-term safety
and durability of the bridge, especially given the region’s seismic
`50,000 CRORE INVESTMENT TO BOOST NATIONAL activity, the Anji Khad Bridge is equipped with an advanced
WATERWAYS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS. integrated monitoring system. This system features numerous
An investment of `50,000 crore will be allocated to enhance sensors that track the structural health and performance of the
infrastructure along national waterways over the next five bridge over time, ensuring its reliability for years to come.
years, as announced in an official statement recently. The
investment proposals were revealed during the Inland Waterways TELANGANA CM INSTRUCTS OFFICIALS TO PREPARE
Development Council (IWDC) meeting held in Kohora, Kaziranga. DPRS FOR THREE PROPOSED METRO RAIL STRETCHES BY
The IWDC, organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India MARCH.
(IWAI), the nodal agency for waterways development under the Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has instructed
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), is focused on officials to finalize the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for three
upgrading infrastructure along national waterways. proposed metro rail stretches in the Shamirpet, Medchal, and
A key highlight of the meeting was the introduction of the Future City areas by the end of March 2025.
Riverine Community Development Scheme, aimed at improving During a meeting on the metro expansion, as well as the
the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by development of radial roads and elevated corridors in
developing supporting infrastructure. Hyderabad, Reddy emphasized the need to secure the approval
Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, of the DPRs from the Central government for these projects. He
speaking at the event, announced plans to launch 1,000 green further directed officials to call for tenders by April 2025.The
vessels over the next five years to promote green shipping along proposed metro stretches include the Rajiv Gandhi International
inland waterways. Building on the success of Kochi’s Water Metro Airport-Future City (40 km), JBS-Shamirpet (22 km), and Paradise-
project, Sonowal revealed that the initiative would be expanded Medchal (23 km). Reddy also urged for the swift completion of
to 15 cities across the country, including Guwahati. Additionally, land acquisition for these projects to maintain momentum.
new ship repair facilities will be set up along national waterways. This development is part of the state government’s ongoing
Sonowal also emphasized that more than `23,000 crore would efforts to improve urban mobility and infrastructure, with a focus
be allocated for the development of new national waterways on enhancing connectivity across Hyderabad.

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