In a high-stakes visit to the poll-bound state of Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil a series of infrastructure and welfare projects worth over ₹5,000 crore in Siwan on Friday. This marks his 51st visit to the state since taking office and is aimed at reinforcing the NDA’s election pitch around development and social justice. As part of the itinerary, PM Modi will disburse ₹510 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), benefiting over 51,000 urban poor families.
Major Infrastructure and Welfare Announcements
According to sources familiar with the plan, PM Modi will inaugurate or lay the foundation for 22 development projects totaling ₹5,736 crore. The flagship projects include new water supply and sewage systems, railway infrastructure, urban housing, and renewable energy initiatives. A BJP functionary said that these investments are intended to fuel employment, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure growth in the state.
Among the key welfare announcements is the release of the first installment of ₹510 crore under PMAY-U for 53,666 homeless beneficiaries. Additionally, 6,684 urban poor families will be handed keys to their newly built homes. In a symbolic gesture, the prime minister will also flag off a new Vande Bharat train service between Patliputra Junction near Patna and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
PM Modi is also expected to inaugurate a 29-kilometre railway line connecting Vaishali and Deoria, a key step in enhancing rail connectivity in the region. As part of the push for cleaner cities, he will inaugurate sewage treatment plants in Digha and Kankarbagh zones of Patna.
Strategic Projects with Eye on Growth
In addition to the visible welfare initiatives, several technical and strategic infrastructure projects are also on the PM’s list. These include the ₹69-crore Bettiah Water Supply Project in West Champaran, the ₹19-crore Chapra Water Supply Project in Saran, and the Motihari Sewage Management Project in East Champaran, pegged at ₹400 crore.
The Ara Water Supply Project in Bhojpur, estimated at ₹138 crore, and a cutting-edge 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across 15 grid substations in the state will also be launched. This latter project includes Viability Gap Funding support of ₹135 crore and aims to boost Bihar’s renewable energy storage capacity.
PM Modi will further flag off the first export locomotive shipment to Guinea, produced by the Marhowra Locomotive Factory in Saran, underlining India’s push towards becoming a global manufacturing hub.
Political Context and Election Strategy
This latest visit comes just 20 days after PM Modi’s previous tour and is his fifth trip to Bihar this year, signalling the state’s growing electoral importance for the BJP-led NDA alliance. Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary said that the PM Modi government has consistently prioritised Bihar’s development with significant budgetary allocations over the years.
“The NDA is a strong political force in Bihar, and we have two trusted leaders—PM Modi and Nitish Kumar—leading our charge,” a BJP leader said. He dismissed the opposition alliance led by RJD as “unstable and visionless,” arguing that they lacked credible leadership and failed to deliver on social justice when in power.
In the 2020 assembly elections, the BJP secured 71 out of the 110 seats it contested in the 243-member legislative assembly. As the state inches closer to the next round of elections, the prime minister’s visit is expected to further energize the NDA’s campaign, emphasizing both development and welfare.
