Cabinet Approvals Ahead of Bihar Visit
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar next week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved two major infrastructure projects worth Rs 7,616 crore. The announcements were made to enhance connectivity, promote economic growth, and generate employment in the state.
Mokama-Munger Greenfield Corridor
The first project is a four-lane, access-controlled Mokama-Munger section of the Buxar-Bhagalpur high-speed corridor. Spanning 82.4 km and estimated at Rs 4,447.38 crore, the corridor will connect key cities such as Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur, Munger, and Bhagalpur.
Built under the hybrid annuity model (HAM), the project aims to reduce travel time to around 1.5 hours with average speeds of 80 kmph and design speeds of 100 kmph. It will support both passenger and freight traffic while ensuring safer and uninterrupted journeys.
The corridor passes through emerging industrial regions, including Jamalpur’s locomotive workshop, Munger’s food processing units, and Bhagalpur’s textile and logistics hubs. Government estimates suggest that the project will create about 14.83 lakh man-days of direct employment and 18.46 lakh man-days of indirect employment.
Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat Railway Doubling
The second project involves doubling the 177 km single railway line connecting Bhagalpur, Dumka, and Rampurhat across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Estimated at Rs 3,169 crore, the project will increase line capacity, reduce congestion, and improve operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
The initiative aligns with the government’s vision to strengthen regional infrastructure, boost employment, and support comprehensive economic development in eastern India.
PM Modi’s Purnea Visit
On September 15, PM Modi will visit Purnea to inaugurate the district airport and launch development schemes worth around Rs 45,000 crore. The airport, Bihar’s fourth after Patna, Gaya, and Darbhanga, will have regular flights operated by Indigo, connecting Purnea to Kolkata.
Takeaway
The combined focus on highways, railways, and airports highlights Bihar’s growing infrastructure push, aiming to enhance connectivity, create jobs, and drive regional economic growth ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
