Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar and West Bengal on August 22 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than ₹18,200 crore, aimed at boosting connectivity, infrastructure, power, health, and urban facilities in the two states.
In Bihar, the Prime Minister will participate in a public function at Gaya at 11 AM, where he will launch projects worth nearly ₹13,000 crore, flag off two trains, and address the gathering. Later in the day, he will travel to West Bengal, where he will inaugurate metro projects in Kolkata and unveil development initiatives worth over ₹5,200 crore.
Bihar: Connectivity, power, and health infrastructure push
Among the key highlights of the Bihar visit will be the inauguration of the 8.15-km long Aunta–Simaria bridge project on NH-31, including a 1.86-km six-lane bridge on the Ganga built at a cost of over ₹1,870 crore. The bridge will provide seamless connectivity between Mokama in Patna and Begusarai while reducing the travel distance for heavy vehicles by over 100 km, easing traffic congestion, and supporting economic activity in North Bihar.
PM Modi will also inaugurate the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section of NH-31 worth around ₹1,900 crore, along with the upgradation of the Bikramganj–Dawath–Nawanagar-Dumraon section of NH-120.
In the power sector, the Prime Minister will dedicate the ₹6,880 crore Buxar Thermal Power Plant (660×1 MW) to the nation, enhancing Bihar’s electricity supply and meeting rising energy demand.
Healthcare infrastructure will also get a major boost with the inauguration of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Muzaffarpur. Equipped with advanced oncology facilities, ICU wards, and modern labs, the state-of-the-art hospital will provide affordable cancer treatment to patients in Bihar and neighbouring states.
Further, under the Namami Gange programme, PM Modi will inaugurate a sewerage treatment plant and network at Munger worth over ₹520 crore, aimed at reducing pollution in the Ganga and improving sanitation. He will also lay the foundation for urban infrastructure projects worth ₹1,260 crore, including sewerage and water supply systems in Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Bodhgaya, and Jamui.
Boosting railway connectivity, the Prime Minister will flag off the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma, strengthening both passenger convenience and religious tourism. He will also hand over keys to beneficiaries of housing schemes under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-Gramin) and PMAY-Urban, marking Grih Pravesh for more than 16,000 families.
West Bengal: Major metro expansion and road connectivity projects
In Kolkata, the Prime Minister will inaugurate metro train services on newly built sections spanning 13.61 km. These include the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar line, Sealdah-Esplanade line, and the Beleghata-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section. The services will drastically cut travel time, improve access to the airport, and boost connectivity with the IT hub, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters.
PM Modi will personally undertake a metro ride from Jessore Road Metro Station to Jai Hind Bimanbandar and back. At a public event, he will also inaugurate the new subway at Howrah Metro Station.
In addition, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a six-lane elevated Kona Expressway in Howrah, a ₹1,200 crore project that will enhance connectivity between Howrah, Kolkata, and surrounding rural areas. The expressway is expected to save hours of travel time and give a significant boost to trade, commerce, and tourism in the region.