PM Modi shares a deep and enduring bond with Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently delivered a powerful speech in Gaya, Bihar, emphasizing development, security, and inclusion ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. During his visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore, covering sectors like power, health, infrastructure, and urban development. These initiatives highlight Modi’s commitment to improving Bihar’s economy and quality of life for its people.

Key infrastructure projects include the Aunta-Simaria Ganga Bridge, a 1.86-km six-lane bridge on NH-31 costing Rs 1,870 crore, which will reduce travel distance by over 100 km for heavy vehicles and improve connectivity between Mokama and Begusarai. A 660-MW thermal power plant worth Rs 6,880 crore aims to strengthen Bihar’s energy security. The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Muzaffarpur provides advanced and affordable cancer care. Additionally, a sewerage treatment plant in Munger under the Namami Gange initiative, costing over Rs 520 crore, will help reduce pollution. Urban development projects also include water supply and sewage infrastructure in Aurangabad, Bodhgaya, and Jehanabad under AMRUT 2.0, along with new train services like the Amrit Bharat Express and the Buddhist Circuit Train to improve connectivity and tourism.

Housing and welfare schemes were another highlight of Modi’s Bihar visit. He handed over keys to 12,000 rural beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin and 4,260 urban families under PMAY-Urban. Over 38 lakh homes have been built in Bihar, with 2 lakh in Gaya alone. Modi reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring every poor family has a home with electricity, water, and gas. These projects show the government’s focus on inclusive growth and improving living standards across the state.

National security was also emphasized. Modi referenced Operation Sindoor as a symbol of India’s strengthened defence policy and issued a warning to Pakistan, stating that India’s missiles can neutralize terrorists anywhere. He raised concerns about illegal immigration in Bihar’s border districts, announcing a ‘Demographic Mission’ to protect local jobs and rights. Modi criticized opposition parties, particularly the RJD and Congress, for allegedly using immigrants for votes while neglecting local issues.

Contrasting Bihar’s past and present

PM Modi praised Bihar’s cultural and historical significance, calling it the “land of Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya” and the “backbone of the nation.” He highlighted the government’s decision to rename Gaya as “Gayaji” to reflect local sentiment and spiritual importance as the land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Infrastructure developments in aviation, like the Patna airport terminal and the Bihta Air Force Station civil enclave, further connect Bihar to national and international networks, enhancing trade, tourism, and opportunities for local communities.

In contrast, the article points to the troubled past of Bihar under the RJD and Lalu Prasad Yadav. The so-called “Jungle Raj” era was marked by lawlessness, corruption, caste-based politics, and socio-economic stagnation. During Lalu’s tenure, violent crimes increased, and governance was widely criticized for failing to provide basic development and opportunities to the people. The infamous fodder scam and other corruption cases illustrated the misuse of public funds. Bihar’s progress was stunted, and caste divisions were heightened, often alienating backward castes beyond Yadavs and Muslims.

Today, Modi’s government is pushing Bihar toward growth, equity, and development. Rail projects such as the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (Jaynagar-Patna), Amrit Bharat Express (Saharsa-Mumbai), and other regional lines are under construction. National highway projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore, metro projects in Patna costing over Rs 13,000 crore, and energy infrastructure like the Nabinagar super thermal power project aim to strengthen the state’s economic base. Projects to improve clean fuel access, irrigation, and rural livelihoods, such as LPG pipelines, dams, canals, and self-help group funding, demonstrate a holistic approach to development.

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Education and heritage projects also play a key role. The new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir is a major milestone, reviving Bihar’s historical and intellectual legacy. The 455-acre campus is designed as a net-zero green campus with water treatment plants, solar energy, green cover, sports facilities, and academic resources, reflecting Bihar’s cultural pride and positioning it as an international hub for learning and research.

From infrastructure to education, transport to health, and housing to energy, Bihar under PM Modi is seeing a transformation that combines growth with inclusion. Compared to the past decades of mismanagement, the state is moving rapidly toward a model of progress, equity, and opportunity. Modi’s governance approach is reshaping Bihar’s identity, connecting its rich historical past with a modern vision for development, and making it a key contributor to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat.