On July 23, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed a number of initiatives for Bihar during her Budget 2024 address. These initiatives are part of a larger initiative called “Purvodaya”, which aims to promote the comprehensive development of eastern states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
The government will provide support for the establishment of an industrial node in Gaya, Bihar, along the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor, as announced by Ms. Sitharaman. She stated, “The industrial node in Gaya will serve as a model for transforming our historic cultural centers into modern economic hubs…this model will demonstrate ‘development as well as culture’.”
The Finance Minister unveiled road connectivity projects totaling ₹26,000 crore in Bihar, which include the Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Darbhanga spurs, as well as a two-lane bridge over River Ganga at Buxar. A 2,400-MW power plant is scheduled to be established in Pirpainti of Bhagalpur district in Bihar, with an estimated cost of ₹21,400 crore, as stated by Ms. Sitharaman. Furthermore, the government intends to develop new airports, medical colleges, and sports infrastructure in Bihar, while also extending support to the State for capital investments through additional allocation.
The Janata Dal (United) party, a crucial ally of Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, had previously urged for a special financial package to be announced for the State during the Budget session. The government had already dismissed the possibility of granting special category status to Bihar. This marks Finance Minister Sitharaman’s seventh consecutive Budget presentation during the third term of the Modi government.
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