Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a grand roadshow in Bihar’s Siwan on Friday, greeting enthusiastic crowds before addressing a public meeting and launching a slew of infrastructure and welfare projects aimed at boosting the state’s development.
PM Modi, alongside Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple initiatives in key sectors including railways, water, sanitation, and energy.
Among the major announcements was the inauguration of the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line worth over ₹400 crore, along with the flagging off of a new train on this route. In a significant move to enhance regional connectivity, he also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.
Reinforcing India’s “Make in India – Make for the World” mission, PM Modi flagged off the first export locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for delivery to the Republic of Guinea. The high-tech locomotives feature advanced propulsion, regenerative braking, and ergonomic designs.
As part of the Namami Gange initiative, PM Modi inaugurated six sewage treatment plants (STPs) worth over ₹1,800 crore to improve sanitation and water quality in the region. In addition, he laid the foundation for water supply and sanitation projects worth ₹3,000 crore, aiming to ensure clean drinking water for urban populations across Bihar.
In the energy sector, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be installed at 15 substations including Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Motihari, and Bettiah. The project will help store power during low-demand periods and release it during peak hours, reducing costs for consumers and easing load on the grid.
PM Modi also released the first instalment to over 53,600 beneficiaries under the PM Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) scheme and participated in a Grih Pravesh ceremony by handing over keys to some of the 6,600 newly constructed homes.
The series of announcements mark a major push in Bihar’s journey toward modernization and socio-economic growth, ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections later this year.
