PATNA, Aug. 14 -- In a move to bolster economic growth and infrastructure development ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Bihar cabinet, chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar, on Wednesday approved new industrial areas in five districts including Begusarai, Patna, Siwan, Saharsa and Madhepura, alongside the expansion of an existing industrial cluster in Gopalganj. These were among the 30 proposals that the state cabinet gave its nod after formal discussion with ministers of the concerned departments. Significantly, with elections looming, the Cabinet's social welfare measures aim to resonate with the electorate. In a major decision, pensions under the JP Samman Yojana for 1974-77 JP Movement detainees were doubled, from Rs.7,500 to Rs.15,000 and Rs.15,000 to Rs.30,000, honoring their contributions. Briefing newspersons after the meeting, additional chief secretary (cabinet) S Siddharth said that Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA), Patna, will facilitate land acquisitions totaling over 2,927 acres for these projects. Specifically, 991 acres in Begusarai (Rs.351.60 crore would be spent on acquisition of the plots), 500 acres in Patna's Bakhtiyarpur (Rs.219.35 crore), 167.349 acres in Siwan's Mairwa (Rs.113.92 crore), 420.62786 acres in Saharsa's Kahra (Rs.88.01 crore), and 548.87 acres in Madhepura's Gwalpara and Uda Kishunganj (Rs.41.26 crore) were approved. The cabinet also cleared the revenue and land reforms department's proposal of acquiring 6.94 acre gairmazarua malik land on payment of Rs.2.60 crore for development of industrial area in Gopgalganj. The land will be handed over to the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) for raising necessary infrastructure for the industrial park in the district. Additionally, the cabinet cleared the industries department's proposal for acquiring a total of 1,300 acres raiyyati and unpopulated land 700 acre in Mohanpur mauza and 600 acre in Fatehpur mauza) for development of the Amritsar-Kolkata Integrated Industrial Corridor Project in Mohunpur and Fatehpur for 2025-26, at an investment of Rs.416 crore. The land would be used for plantation in lieu of forest land acquired earlier for development of the industrial corridor. The aviation sector received a significant boost with the approval of obstacle limitation surface (OLS) surveys for proposed airports in Birpur, Muzaffarpur, Balmikinagar, Saharsa, Munger and Bhagalpur, budgeted at Rs.2.91 crore. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been allotted the work on nomination basis. The Cabinet also allocated Rs.137.17 crore for the expansion of Gaya Airport, including CAT-I lighting installation on 18.2442 acres, enhancing operational efficiency and regional connectivity. These initiatives are poised to improve tourism and economic activity, key priorities as the state approaches the polls. In wake of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision ( SIR), the cabinet also hiked the remuneration for Booth Level Officers (BLOs). As per a proposal, the remuneration for BLOs ( booth level officers) was increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.14,000 annually, and for BLO Supervisors from Rs.15,000 to Rs.18,000, strengthening grassroots election machinery. The state government has approved the education department's plan of disbursing scholarships and payment for uniforms under the Mukhyamantri Poshak and Balika Poshak Yojana for 2025-26 among the students in classes 1-8, who have 75% attendance between April 1 and July 31. The fund would be transferred to beneficiaries through direct benefit transfer (DBT). Other notable approvals include a Rs.515 crore solid waste management project under the PPP mode, processing waste from 13 municipal bodies at Patna's Ramachak Bairiya to generate 15 MW of electricity. Revised estimates of Rs.82.99 crore for cable suspension bridge at Punpun in Patna and a Rs.292.74 crore flyover from Meethapur to Chiraiyatand were also cleared....