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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar on Wednesday was marked by the inauguration and laying of foundation stones for a wide range of development projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore. The event, held in Darbhanga, underscored the government's commitment to bolstering infrastructure and improving healthcare, transportation, and energy sectors in the state.
Among the most significant announcements was the foundation stone laying ceremony for AIIMS-Darbhanga, a project expected to cost over Rs 1,260 crore. This state-of-the-art medical facility, once completed, will boast a superspecialty hospital, an Ayush block, medical and nursing colleges, and comprehensive residential facilities. The institute is poised to serve as a beacon of tertiary healthcare, catering to the needs of Bihar's population and neighboring regions.
Modi's visit also saw the inauguration and commencement of various National Highway (NH) projects, collectively valued at approximately Rs 5,070 crore. He inaugurated the four-lane Galgalia (West Bengal)-Araria section of NH-327E, a project designed to create an alternate route on the East-West Corridor (NH-27) and ease connectivity with West Bengal. In addition to this, the foundation stones were laid for eight other NH projects, including the two-lane road from Ramnagar to Rosera, the Bihar-West Bengal border to Manihari (Katihar) section of NH-131A, and the Hajipur to Bachhwara via Mahnar and Mohiuddin Nagar road, among others. These projects aim to enhance connectivity and facilitate trade within Bihar and neighboring states.
The railway sector also received significant attention during the visit. Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stones of several railway projects worth over Rs 1,740 crore. The railway projects worth over Rs 1,520 crore that he dedicated to the nation include gauge conversion of Jhanjharpur-Laukaha Bazar Rail section, Darbhanga bypass railway line, which will ease out traffic congestion at Darbhanga Junction, and doubling of tracks. He laid the foundation stone of Sonenagar bypass railway line from Chiralapothu to Bagha Bishunpur in Aurangabad district worth over Rs 220 crore. The PM also flagged off train services in Jhanjharpur-Laukaha Bazar section, introducing MEMU train services that will enhance access to jobs, education, and healthcare in nearby towns and cities.
Modi's commitment to improving energy infrastructure was evident in the foundation stone laying ceremonies for multiple initiatives in the petroleum and natural gas sector, totaling over Rs 4,020 crore. Aligning with the government's vision of expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to households and providing clean energy options to commercial and industrial sectors, Modi laid the foundation stone for the development of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in five districts — Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Sitamarhi, and Sheohar — by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. He also laid the foundation stone of a bitumen manufacturing unit of Barauni Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, a move that is expected to reduce dependence on imported bitumen.
In a significant step towards enhancing healthcare accessibility, Modi dedicated 18 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras to the nation. These centers, strategically located at various railway stations across India, will ensure the availability of affordable medicines, promoting the use of generic medicines and potentially reducing healthcare costs for the public.
Source: PM Modi Unveils Over Rs 12,000 Crore Infrastructure Projects in Bihar