PM Modi to Unveil ₹12,200 Cr Projects in Bihar, Bengal

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th July: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bihar and West Bengal on July 18, where he will inaugurate, lay foundation stones for, and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects totaling over ₹12,200 crore. These initiatives are aimed at significantly impacting connectivity, infrastructure, and socio-economic growth in both states.

The Prime Minister will first visit Motihari, Bihar, around 11:30 AM, to launch projects worth over ₹7,200 crore. Later, he will travel to Durgapur, West Bengal, around 3:00 PM, for projects exceeding ₹5,000 crore. In both locations, he will also address public gatherings.

Bihar: Focus on Connectivity, Tech, and Rural Development

In Bihar, the Prime Minister’s focus will be on projects spanning rail, road, rural development, fisheries, and electronics and information technology.

Rail & Road Development:

• Four new Amrit Bharat trains will be flagged off, connecting Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) to New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari to Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal), Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), and Malda Town to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur, enhancing regional connectivity.
• Projects include automatic signalling on Samastipur-Bachhwara and Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin rail lines for efficient operations.
• Doubling of rail lines such as Darbhanga-Thalwara, Samastipur-Rambhadrapur, and Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj (worth ₹4,080 crore) will increase capacity and reduce delays.
• Foundation stone for Vande Bharat train maintenance infrastructure at Patliputra.
• 4-laning of Ara bypass of NH-319 and inauguration of the 4-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319 (worth over ₹820 crore) will improve road infrastructure.
• Inauguration of a 2-lane paved shoulder from Sarwan to Chakai of NH-333C linking Bihar and Jharkhand.

IT & Fisheries Initiatives:

• Inauguration of a new Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility at Darbhanga and a state-of-the-art Incubation Facility of STPI at Patna to promote IT/ITES/ESDM industries and startups.
• Launch of fisheries development projects under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), including new fish hatcheries and biofloc units, to enhance fish production and employment in rural Bihar.

Rural Support Programs:

• Release of ₹400 crore to approximately 61,500 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM, supporting women-led development.
• Griha Pravesh for 12,000 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin and release of over ₹160 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries.

West Bengal: Strengthening Energy, Rail, and Road Networks

In West Bengal, projects will cover Oil and Gas, Power, Road, and Rail sectors.

Oil & Gas and Power Initiatives:

• Foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bankura and Purulia districts (worth around ₹1,950 crore) to provide PNG and CNG.
• Dedication of Durgapur to Kolkata section (132 Km) of Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline (worth over ₹1,190 crore), part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project, supplying natural gas to households.
• Dedication of Retrofitting Pollution Control System-Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) at Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station (worth over ₹1,457 crore) for cleaner energy production.

Rail & Road Infrastructure:

• Dedication of the doubling of Purulia – Kotshila Rail Line (36 KM) (worth over ₹390 crore) to improve industrial connectivity.
• Inauguration of two Road Over Bridges (ROBs) at Topsi and Pandabeshwar (worth over ₹380 crore) under the Setu Bharatam Programme, improving connectivity and safety.