Patna: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved the civil aviation department’s proposal to select IndiGo Airlines for operating a biweekly international flight between Gaya and Bangkok (Thailand). The service is expected to commence shortly.The cabinet meeting was chaired by CM Samrat Choudhary. Cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary Arvind Choudhary said the holding company of IndiGo Airlines, M/s InterGlobe Aviation Limited, was selected through a tendering process.He said the cabinet approved viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs10.40 crore for one year for the airline operator. Since the company was the sole bidder, the selection was made on a nomination basis.“Initially, the passenger intake might not be to the desirable level. Therefore, the viability gap fund worth Rs5 lakh is being paid to the firm for each of the to and fro flight from Gaya to Bangkok and from Bangkok back to Gaya, and it will be payable for a year,” Arvind said.He added that the cabinet approved the proposal anticipating an early launch of the international service.“The long-term viability of the international flight between Gaya and Bangkok is assured, as a large number of tourists come to India every year from Thailand to visit Buddhist places of importance, in which the Buddhist sites of Bihar, like Bodh Gaya and other places, hold special significance,” he said.He further said the move would increase tourist footfall in the state and strengthen Bihar’s presence on the international tourism map, besides boosting economic activity in sectors such as hospitality, hotels, transport and handicrafts.Overall, the cabinet cleared 13 proposals during the meeting.In another major decision, the cabinet approved release of Rs428 crore to the water resources department (WRD) for supplying water to Gaya and the upcoming Dobhi industrial enclave under the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC).Officials said the required water supply would be ensured through reservoirs to be constructed by the WRD. According to the master plan, the industrial area would initially require 8.5 million litres per day (MLD) of water, while the ultimate demand is projected at 19 MLD. The annual water requirement has been estimated at 8.5 million cubic metres (MCM).For this, 324 acres of land would be provided by the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) near Dobhi for construction of a reservoir with a storage capacity of 8.5 MCM. Water would be drawn for 40 days from the rain-fed Leelajan river to fill the reservoir and meet the projected demand of 19 MLD.The cabinet also approved release of Rs747 crore from the state contingency fund towards the health sector central grant for the 2026-27 financial year on the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission.The amount would be utilised for strengthening healthcare services at block-level primary health centres (PHCs), including opening diagnostic centres and establishing health and wellness centres.Another proposal approved by the cabinet was continuation of the recommendations of the Fifth State Finance Commission for release of grants to urban and rural local bodies during 2026-27, as the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission are yet to be received.The cabinet also approved the Young Professionals Selection Policy, 2026, aimed at hiring technical and specialised professionals for institutions under the science, technology and technical education department. The policy seeks to improve efficiency in technical institutions through induction of young professionals.To strengthen border security and the intelligence network along the “highly sensitive” India-Nepal border, the cabinet approved creation of the post of inspector general of police (border) in the special branch of the home department.
