Bihar Officials Hold Strategic Meeting with BISAG-N Director on Geospatial Technology Implementation
In a significant development for Bihar's infrastructure planning, State Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit held a crucial meeting on Tuesday with T P Singh, the Director General of the Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N). The primary agenda was to discuss and enhance the effective utilization of geospatial technical support across Bihar through the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti portal.
Key Participants and Discussion Focus
The meeting saw the presence of Dr. Pratima, Secretary of the Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education, who contributed valuable insights into the ongoing coordination efforts. Detailed discussions centered around three core areas:
- The strategic application of geospatial technology support
- Improving inter-departmental coordination mechanisms
- Practical implementation strategies for Bihar through the PM Gati Shakti portal in collaboration with BISAG-N
Participants conducted a thorough review of the current status and charted a way forward for leveraging geospatial data, digital tools, and advanced analytics specifically tailored for Bihar's needs through the national portal.
Addressing Bihar-Specific Infrastructure Challenges
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit highlighted several persistent challenges that emerge during the early stages of infrastructure project planning and implementation in Bihar. These include critical issues such as:
- Land availability constraints
- Alignment complexities
- Drainage management requirements
- Identification of flood-prone areas
- Forest area considerations
Amrit emphasized that planned and systematic use of geospatial technology could prove particularly beneficial for the state, helping to address these challenges proactively rather than reactively.
Institutional Coordination and Practical Implementation
Dr. Pratima provided detailed updates on the coordination framework established between BISAG-N and the Bihar Remote Sensing Applications Center (BIRSAC). She outlined the collaborative work being undertaken with various state departments and discussed the practical aspects of institutionalizing geospatial services.
The secretary underscored that continuous efforts are being made to establish institutional mechanisms for timely coordination and field-level feedback between departments. This systematic approach aims to ensure the effective utilization of digital tools and dashboards developed in partnership with BISAG-N.
Strategic Emphasis on Early Planning Integration
The chief secretary reiterated a crucial strategic point: if departments ensure the integration of geospatial inputs at the planning stage itself, it becomes possible to identify potential bottlenecks in projects well in advance. This proactive approach can help avoid unnecessary delays during implementation phases, ultimately saving time and resources while improving project outcomes.
Building on Previous Institutional Decisions
This meeting follows an earlier significant gathering held on January 14 at BIRSAC in Patna, which was also chaired by the chief secretary. During that meeting, clear guidelines were issued to all departments regarding the institutional use of geospatial platforms under the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti initiative.
Key decisions from that January meeting included:
- Making geospatial auditing and technical approval mandatory before preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for projects costing more than ₹50 crore
- Strengthening the integrated use of departmental data across various agencies
- Establishing mechanisms for timely coordination and regular dialogue with technical institutions
The latest meeting represents a continuation of these institutional efforts, focusing specifically on enhancing collaboration with BISAG-N to maximize the benefits of geospatial technology for Bihar's development agenda.
