The cabinet on Tuesday approved replacement of the dilapidated Gardanibagh government quarters with ultra-modern high-rises as part of a modern urban centre to come up on a public-private partnership mode.

“The present residential flats/accommodation meant for Grade III and IV government employees would be demolished to build a new and modern urban centre,” principal secretary (cabinet co-ordination) Vijoy Prakash, told reporters in a post-cabinet briefing.

“The government residential colony in Gardanibagh spreads over 290 acres,” he said, adding that there were 770 government quarters for Grade III and IV employees. Institutional establishments, including the existing government schools and hospitals, would be left untouched.

Sources said the project might take 18-24 months for completion after getting the cabinet approval.

The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 52.12 crore for implementation of schemes in the food processing sector in the current fiscal, the principal secretary said.

It also sanctioned Rs 99.65 crore, including Rs 5 crore, to be paid to Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd for construction of a new 220/132/33KV grid (2x150 and 2x50MVA capacity) at Bihta, along with laying of transmission and downlinking lines for the grid, he said.

“It approved construction of 211 godowns at Rs 169 crore to create an additional storage capacity for 2.18 lakh tonne of foodgrain as part of the agriculture roadmap in 2013-14,” Prakash said.

The co-operative department’s proposal for creating an additional 4 lakh metric tonne storage capacity on bazaar samiti land in 2012-13 and 2013-14 with Nabard loan was also approved.

“The purchase of 80 soft-top vehicles (Euro IV compliant) for Rs 3.91 crore for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe members and women’s police station was approved,” said Prakash, before adding that the formation of the Bihar Forestry Development Corporation Ltd was also passed.

The cabinet also approved the constitution of State Women’s Resources Centre to comply with a directive issued by the ministry of women and child development, the principal secretary said.

The cabinet took 43 decisions at Tuesday’s meeting.