Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Bihar and West Bengal today, inaugurating a slew of projects.
In Bihar, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development projects worth over RS 7,000 crore at Motihari in poll-bound Bihar at around 11:30 am. He is also scheduled to address a public rally in the East Champaran district.
Tight security measures are in place at Gandhi Maidan in Motihari town. At this district headquarters, Modi is expected to arrive at around 11:30 am, and share the stage with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and a number of Union ministers.
"All arrangements have been made for the public at the venue of the rally, which is expected to attract around five lakh people," East Champaran District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said.
State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said this will be the PM's 53rd visit to the state, "which shows that Bihar is high on Modi's list of priorities".
The development projects launched by him will give a boost to NDA ahead of the assembly polls due in just a few months, he said.
Of the development projects to be launched, those relating to Railways would be worth Rs 5,385 crore.
According to a statement issued by the Railways, these include doubling of the 256-km Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj at Rs 4,079 crore, and Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur lines at Rs 585 crore.
The PM will also flag four Amrit Bharat Express trains, all passing through the state and two connecting Bihar with Delhi.
In addition, road and highway projects worth Rs 1,173 crore will be launched by Modi, who will also give away Rs 162 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) and extend "Rs 400 crore community funding" for 61,500 self-help groups.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, said, "Tomorrow, when the PM will be in Bihar, we hope he will have a few words for the soaring crime rate in the state."
"In every rally on Bihar's soil, Modi makes it a point to cry hoarse about the return of 'jungle raj' if the RJD-led coalition comes to power. He should acknowledge that 'jungle raj' has already arrived. It has been there during the 20 years the state has been under NDA rule," Yadav alleged.
PM Modi in West Bengal
In West Bengal's Durgapur, PM Modi will lay foundation stones and inaugurate projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore.
The Prime Minister will lay out projects related to oil and gas, power, road and rail sectors.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Looking forward to being among the people of West Bengal tomorrow, 18th July. At a programme in Durgapur, the foundation stones for various works and projects worth over Rs. 5000 crore. The projects cover sectors like oil and gas, power, railways, and roads."
In a major boost to Oil and Gas infrastructure, PM will lay the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bankura and Purulia district of West Bengal worth around Rs 1,950 crore. It will provide PNG connections to households, commercial establishments and industrial customers, and provide CNG at the retail outlets and also create employment opportunities in the region.
He will also dedicate to the nation Durgapur to Kolkata section (132 Km) of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, which has been laid as a part of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, also known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project. The Durgapur to Kolkata section, worth over Rs 1,190 crore,e is passing through the districts of Purba Bardhman, Hooghly and Nadia in West Bengal. The pipeline provided direct and indirect employment during its implementation phase and will now facilitate the supply of natural gas to lakhs of households in the region.
PM Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Retrofitting Pollution Control System-Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) of Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station of Damodar Valley Corporation, worth over Rs 1,457 crore. It will benefit the region by supporting cleaner energy production and creating employment opportunities in the region.
Boosting rail infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the doubling of Purulia – Kotshila Rail Line (36 KM) in Purulia, worth over Rs 390 crore. It will improve rail connectivity between industries from Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad with Ranchi and Kolkata and efficient movement of goods trains, reducing travel time and improving logistics for industries and businesses.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate two road over bridges (ROBs) constructed under the Setu Bharatam Programme, worth over Rs 380 crore, at Topsi and Pandabeshwar in Paschim Bardhaman. It will improve connectivity and also help in preventing accidents at Railway level crossings.
The assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled for next month.
Taking a dig at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), PM Modi said that the state is suffering due to TMC's 'misrule'.
"West Bengal is suffering due to TMC misrule. People are seeing the BJP with hope and are convinced that only the BJP can deliver on development. Tomorrow, 18th July, will be addressing a @BJP4Bengal rally in Durgapur. Do join!" PM Modi posted on Thursday.
(With agency inputs)
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