Instead Of Special Status, Big Bounty For Bihar In Budget 2024-25 — Here’s A List

During her budget speech for the financial year 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced major infrastructure projects for Bihar.

In her speech, Sitharaman made two significant announcements benefitting Bihar.

The first announcement is dedicated to the entire eastern part of the country, of which Bihar is a crucial part. Sitharaman highlighted that the eastern part is rich in resources and has a long cultural tradition.

Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will be developed under the plan Purvoday: Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi. Human resource development, infrastructure, and generation of economic opportunities will be key agendas of the plan.

One of the corridors being developed to accelerate industrialisation of the region is the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC). The corridor, around which roughly 40 per cent of India’s population resides, will have a specially dedicated industrial node in the Gaya district of Bihar.

Due to its proximity to Jharkhand and Patna — Bihar’s capital, the industrial node will enhance the establishment of industries and the generation of new jobs.

This year’s budget has allocated significant amounts for infrastructure projects in Bihar. Rs 26,000 crore has been allocated for the Patna-Purnia expressway, Bhagalpur-Buxar expressway, a two-lane bridge over the Ganga river in Buxar, and spurs in Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Darbhanga.

Rs 21,000 crore have been allocated for power projects, highlighted by a 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti, Bhagalpur.

Additionally, new airports, medical colleges, and sports facilities will be constructed in Bihar, though details regarding the allocation and location of these benefits are awaited.

To address the perennial flooding issues in Bihar, Rs 11,500 crore has been sanctioned. The money will be utilised for the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes, including barrages, river pollution abatement, and irrigation projects.

Moreover, surveys and investigations will also be carried out for irrigation and flood mitigation in the Kosi region.

Finance Minister Sitharaman also announced plans to further accelerate the development of Nalanda and Rajgir as tourist destinations.