Bihar Chief Minister Announces Steel Plant in Gaya IMC, Part of ₹11,461 Cr Development Push

The Announcement

On Monday at BIT Mesra campus in Patna, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary unveiled a major development roadmap focused on industrial growth, infrastructure expansion and employment generation, laying foundation stones and inaugurating 2,476 projects worth ₹11,461 crore across the state.

Within this roadmap, CM Choudhary announced that a new steel plant will be established in the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) area of Gaya, developed on the lines of the Bokaro Steel Plant and bringing large-scale industrial opportunities to the region.

Bokaro Steel Plant Model

The Bokaro Steel Plant is an integrated steel production facility located in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand, operated as a unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The first blast furnace commenced operations on October 2, 1972, marking the start of steel production; the initial phase achieved 1.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of ingot steel capacity by February 26, 1978. Over time additional facilities were added and it now has a capacity of 4 million tons annually. The Gaya steel plant will follow this integrated model, though exact capacity specifications for the Gaya facility have not been disclosed.

Gaya IMC: The Broader Context

An agreement was signed between the Bihar Government, Bihar Industrial Development Authority and NICDC on 12 November 2024 for the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Gaya. The cluster will be spread over 1,670 acres of land and will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,339 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval to the project on August 28, 2024 while environmental clearance was granted by Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change on March 18, 2025.

Targeted industries include building materials, agri-food processing, leather goods, garments, furniture, handloom, handicrafts, engineering, fabrications, and medical equipment.

Expected Employment and Investment

IMC Gaya, located near Gaya International Airport, with a project cost of Rs 1,339 crore is expected to generate approximately 1,09,185 jobs, boosting local economic growth. The cluster is located 39 kms south of Gaya International Airport and will cover 1,670 acres with a projected investment potential of INR 16,524 crore.

Status (as of July 2026)

Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena directed to decide on selection of agency by end of March 2026 as the land has already been acquired by the state government. The EPC tender for the industrial township is likely to be floated in the first week of July, 2025. The steel plant announcement represents government commitment to anchor industrial development within this broader cluster framework, though specific timelines and capacity details remain to be finalized.

Related Announcements in Development Roadmap

The Bihar government also announced plans to develop an Electronic Park at Rajapakar in Muzaffarpur, expected to attract investment of around ₹20,000 crore to ₹30,000 crore. The government announced that 25 new sugar mills will be established in Bihar over the next five years. Darbhanga Airport will be upgraded to an international airport, while Purnia Airport will also receive international status under a ₹206 crore project.