Sushil Kumar Modi Bats for Rapid Urbanisation in Bihar

Terming it as the engine for growth, Sushil Kumar Modi bats for rapid urbanisation in Bihar. Citing the encouraging figures of other States, he pointed out that Bihar’s urbanisation stood at a mere 11.30%. He compared Bihar’s urbanization to 48.45% in Tamil Nadu, 47% in Kerala, 45% in Maharashtra and 23% in the State of West Bengal. Expressing great hopes, the minister said that, “we have merely 11.3% of urbanisation in the State, while our 89% people reside in rural areas. We have to take Bihar’s percentage of urbanisation to 20% in next few years.” He added that every city must have facilities like bypass, an auditorium of 1,000 to 1,500 capacity, parks, street lights, drinking water, sewerage, bus stand, collection of property tax, good transport system, among others.

Stating that funds were not a problem, Sushil Modi said that urban local bodies (ULBs) will get ₹2,600 crores between 2015 and 2020; out of it they have already received ₹809 crore. The Deputy Chief Minister, who also heads the finance and commercial taxes department, said all purchases made by government wings and ULBs will be made through the government e-market portal in Bihar from January 1, 2018.

He also said that the state government has handed the responsibility of collecting property tax of Patna Municipal Corporation to a private agency. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the State government officials have been asked to give concessions to those who deposit property tax online.

Meanwhile, he also launched 45 schemes worth ₹95.57 crore yesterday. Simultaneously he also laid foundations of 162 schemes which totalled up to an amount of ₹568 crore of the Urban Development Department.