Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bihar and West Bengal on Friday to inaugurate a range of development initiatives valued at over ₹12,000 crore, which are designed to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, and socio-economic progress in both states.

PM in Bihar

The Prime Minister will lay the groundwork, inaugurate, and dedicate various development projects to the nation, focusing on the Rail, Road, Rural Development, Fisheries, Electronics, and Information Technology sectors.

In alignment with his pledge to improve connectivity and infrastructure, the Prime Minister will dedicate several rail projects to the nation. This includes the implementation of automatic signalling on the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail line, which will facilitate more efficient train operations in that area. The doubling of the Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur rail lines, part of the Darbhanga-Samastipur doubling project costing over ₹580 crore, will enhance train operation capacity and minimize delays.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for several rail projects. These projects encompass the development of maintenance infrastructure for Vande Bharat trains at Patliputra and the installation of automatic signalling on the 114 km Bhatni–Chhapra Gramin rail line to streamline train operations. Upgrading the traction system in the Bhatni–Chhapra Gramin section will enable higher train speeds by reinforcing traction infrastructure and optimizing energy efficiency. Furthermore, the Darbhanga–Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project, estimated at around ₹4,080 crore, will boost sectional capacity, allow for the operation of more passenger and freight trains, and enhance connectivity between North Bihar and the rest of the nation.

To further improve road connectivity in the area, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation for the four-laning of the Ara bypass on NH-319 and inaugurate the Parariya to Mohania segment of NH-319. This corridor, linking Ara Town to the Golden Quadrilateral, is anticipated to improve both passenger and freight transport.

He will also inaugurate a two-lane paved shoulder road from Sarwan to Chakai under NH-333C, which is a crucial connection between Bihar and Jharkhand.

In the digital infrastructure domain, the Prime Minister will open a new Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility in Darbhanga along with a cutting-edge incubation centre in Patna. These establishments are intended to bolster the growth of the IT and startup ecosystem in Bihar, enhancing software exports and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), multiple fisheries development initiatives will also be launched. These initiatives encompass the establishment of hatcheries, biofloc units, ornamental fish farming units, and integrated aquaculture infrastructure. The new projects are anticipated to create jobs and elevate the rural economy through increased fish production and entrepreneurship.

In alignment with the vision for a modern and accessible railway network, the Prime Minister will flag off four new Amrit Bharat trains that will connect key cities such as Patna, Motihari, Darbhanga, and Malda Town with major destinations like New Delhi and Lucknow, thereby improving regional and interstate rail connectivity.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will allocate ₹400 crore to around 61,500 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Bihar under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). He will also distribute keys to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin during a Griha Pravesh event for 12,000 families, and will release over ₹160 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries of the scheme.

PM in West Bengal

Later in the day, at approximately 3 PM, the Prime Minister will travel to Durgapur in West Bengal, where he will launch and dedicate several development projects in the Oil and Gas, Power, Road, and Rail sectors, with a total value exceeding ₹5,000 crore.

In a significant advancement for energy infrastructure, he will lay the foundation stone for the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution project in the districts of Bankura and Purulia. The ₹1,950 crore initiative aims to deliver piped natural gas to homes and CNG for vehicles, enhancing employment opportunities and promoting the use of clean energy.

Additionally, he will dedicate the 132-km Durgapur to Kolkata segment of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline to the nation. This section, valued at over ₹1,190 crore, is part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project and will enable the distribution of natural gas across several districts, including Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Nadia.

In line with the commitment to clean energy, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems at the Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station, both operated by the Damodar Valley Corporation. These pollution control systems, costing over ₹1,457 crore, are anticipated to enhance air quality and support sustainable power generation in the area.

Rail infrastructure in West Bengal will also be improved with the inauguration of the doubling of the Purulia-Kotshila rail line, a 36-km stretch valued at over ₹390 crore. This project will enhance industrial connectivity from Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad to Ranchi and Kolkata, improving logistics and decreasing transit times.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister will inaugurate two road overbridges at Topsi and Pandabeshwar in Paschim Bardhaman, built under the Setu Bharatam programme at a cost exceeding ₹380 crore. These bridges are expected to facilitate smoother traffic flow and minimize accidents at railway level crossings.