Bihar Assembly Passes Rural Development Budget Demands

23 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Bihar Assembly on Saturday passed budgetary demands of the Rural Development Department for the financial year 2026-27 amounting to Rs 237.01 billion (bn). The figure is expressed in international units to assist public comprehension and will fund the department's programmes through the year.

Replying to the debate on the budgetary demands, the Rural Development and Transport Minister Shrawan Kumar outlined that the government is prioritising completion of houses for poor families and creating employment opportunities through various schemes. The minister indicated that schemes will address both construction and livelihood components and that resources have been allocated to accelerate ongoing projects. He added that targeted interventions will focus on rural areas with acute need.

The minister stated that nearly two million (mn) people have applied online for houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Based on surveys conducted in line with directions of the Central government, a list of about 10.4 mn eligible beneficiaries has been prepared for housing assistance. The beneficiary list is intended to guide allocation of housing support and to ensure that subsidies reach intended recipients.

The release did not furnish a detailed account in the public text and indicated that further particulars were available only to logged in users, limiting immediate public access to comprehensive figures. The passage of the demands is expected to enable the department to proceed with procurement, contractor engagement and beneficiary selection for the coming financial year.

The department will proceed with operational planning and implementation in accordance with approved funds and regulatory requirements, and it will provide periodic updates as schemes advance and funds are disbursed. This action follows standard legislative procedure and is aimed at accelerating housing delivery and rural employment generation.

Infrastructure Urban

20 Mar 2026

Lemon Tree Hotels Signs Resort In Lonavala Maharashtra

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTHL) has signed a licence agreement for Lemon Tree Resort in Lonavala, Maharashtra, with the asset to be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LTHL. The resort will offer 50 well appointed rooms and will include a restaurant, banquet, meeting room, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. The company described the addition as part of its strategy to expand branded resort offerings in key getaway destinations. Lonavala, located in the Sahyadri hills, is a popular leisure destination in western India known for scenic landscapes and a ..

Kalai Chettinad Art And Architecture Festival At The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace Chettinad will host Kalai, the Chettinad Art and Architecture Festival, a four-day, three-night immersive celebration of the artistic legacy of Chettinad from three to six April 2026. The event has been organised by Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) and will take place across restored heritage properties in Chettinad. It will be designed to offer guests a layered experience of place, structure and story that connects art, architecture and living traditions. The festival aims to present a confluence of global influences and local aesthetics. Kalai has been curated i..

SJVN Reaches One bn Units At 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Project

SJVN Limited (SJVN) has reached a milestone with its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Bikaner Solar Power Project by generating one bn units of electricity on 20 March 2026. The achievement underscores the company's role in supplying clean and sustainable energy to the national grid. The generation milestone was recorded within months of the project commencing operations and highlights rapid performance from the new facility. The Bikaner project, located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, has been developed and implemented by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) under the Central Public Sector Undertaking Schem..