Nagaland media delegation continued its press tour in Bihar organised by the Press Information Bureau under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on March 18.
Morung Express News
Patna| March 18
The visiting media delegation from Nagaland led by led by P Sophie, Head of Office, PIB Kohima continued its press tour in Bihar organised by the Press Information Bureau under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on March 18 with engagements focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, and government communication.
The delegation began the day with a visit to Krishi Bhawan, where they interacted with Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav and senior officials, including the Secretary (Agriculture). The interaction focused on Makhana cultivation and its growing economic significance.
Officials informed that India produces around 90 per cent of the world’s makhana, with Bihar as the leading producer. They highlighted that the crop has gained global demand due to its nutritional profile, being gluten-free and rich in micronutrients. The delegation was briefed on government interventions, including subsidy support for traditional equipment, storage infrastructure, and farmer-oriented schemes aimed at improving income, particularly among fishing communities engaged in makhana cultivation.
It was also shared that makhana received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2022, strengthening its market identity. Efforts are underway to expand cultivation beyond traditional pond-based methods, introduce mechanisation in harvesting and processing, and promote integrated models such as makhana–fish farming. Officials further outlined plans to expand cultivation area and boost employment generation in the sector over the coming years.
Later, the delegation visited the Danapur–Bihta Elevated Road Project and interacted with officials at the site. The officials briefed on the ongoing construction and technical aspects of the project. The elevated corridor, being developed along NH-922, has an estimated cost of around ₹1,969 crore.
According to project details available at the site, the road has a total length of approximately 25.08 km, including elevated stretches and ramps. The project features four-lane carriageways, major and minor bridges, service roads, underpasses, and a toll plaza. The viaduct length is about 16.68 km, supported by hundreds of piers and spans using segmental construction technology.
Officials informed that the project commenced in April 2024 and is scheduled for completion by August 2027. Once completed, it is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion between Danapur and Bihta, improving connectivity to nearby areas including the airport and key urban centres.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Press Information Bureau–Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) office in Patna, where officials presented an overview of their communication and outreach activities. It was informed that CBC operates across all 38 districts of Bihar through six regional offices, with a focus on rural outreach, where a significant portion of the population resides.
Officials highlighted that their initiatives include Integrated Communication and Outreach Programmes (ICOPs), grassroots-level awareness campaigns, and digital engagement through social media platforms. A “bottom-up” approach is adopted to identify local issues and tailor communication strategies accordingly. Inter-departmental collaboration with platforms such as All India Radio and Doordarshan was also emphasised.
The interaction underscored the importance of disseminating verified and credible information, particularly in the context of misinformation and digital media expansion.
The day’s programme concluded with the delegation’s departure to Nalanda for the next phase of the tour.
