On the 14th day of the Budget Session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary announced a series of major measures related to the expansion, modernization, and welfare of the police force while replying to the debate on the Home Department’s budget.
Amid a boycott by the Opposition, Choudhary asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar is now “free from extremism,” and the government is taking concrete steps to further strengthen law and order in the state.
The Home Minister announced that a total of 60,000 appointments will be made in the Home Department, including 31,000 positions in the police force. He also declared that personnel who have served under the Agniveer scheme will be given appointments on a reservation basis. Filling vacant posts, he said, will enhance the operational efficiency of police stations and special units.
To boost rapid response capabilities, the government will procure 1,500 scooters and 2,500 motorcycles for the police. Keeping women’s safety and community participation in focus, he also announced the launch of the “Police Didi” initiative.
Choudhary further announced the construction of a new open jail in Bhagalpur. He said that “Jeevika Didi Kitchens” will be started in 40 police lines across the state. Additionally, one school will be opened in each police line to provide better facilities for the families of police personnel.
Emphasizing housing expansion, the Minister said 618 buildings will be constructed to accommodate 27,000 personnel. Around 1,300 housing units have been proposed specifically for women constables. A bomb disposal squad will be constituted within the Special Security Group (SSG), and two new battalions will be deployed for security in industrial areas.
Highlighting technological modernization, Choudhary said the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in policing will be expanded. Claiming that FIRs were registered in 96.1 percent of applications received under the E-FIR system, he described it as a significant step toward transparency.
As per the Chief Minister’s directive, officers of SP rank will hold public grievance hearings at every police station, with monitoring mechanisms in place to track the disposal of cases.
Responding to the arrest of MP Pappu Yadav, Choudhary said those who had questioned the capability of the Bihar Police were arrested within two hours of landing at the airport, calling it proof of the force’s efficiency.
The announcements made by the Home Department are being viewed as a significant step toward strengthening law and order and equipping the police force with better resources. The pace of implementation of these plans will now be closely watched.
