Synopsis
The NDA’s budget allocated ₹58,900 crore to Bihar pre-elections. Sitharaman announced ₹26,000 crore for roads, including Patna-Purnea, Buxar-Bhagalpur expressways. JDU’s Buddhist Corridor demand saw progress. A Ganga River bridge was approved. ₹21,400 crore to Pirpainti Thermal Power Project; Sanjay Jha raised Kosi Mechi link. Funds for flood management, airports, medical colleges, Maha Bodhi Corridor were also announced.
AgenciesBihar got special treatment in the budget, highlighting the coalition compulsions of the NDA government, but not the special status that BJP’s allies from the state have been demanding.
The budget tried to make the allies and people of Bihar happy ahead of assembly elections next year, earmarking ₹58,900 crore for various projects in the state. Chief minister Nitish Kumar termed it a budget for the development of Bihar.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Bihar would get ₹26,000 crore for the development of road infrastructure. The state has national and state highways but no expressways. The budget announced two greenfield expressways: Patna-Purnea and Buxar-Bhagalpur. The expressways will have spurs linking Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga.
The state’s ruling JDU, an NDA constituent, has for long been demanding a Buddhist Corridor connecting places such as Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali. Through the expressway project the central government has tried to address the demand. An additional two-lane bridge will also be constructed on the Ganga River in Buxar.
The budget also announced support for some existing projects, including ₹21,400 crore for the 2,400 MW Pirpainti Thermal Power Project, a joint venture of the Bihar government and Coal India.
Sitharaman promised a special assistance of ₹11,500 crore for more than 20 ongoing and new projects including the Kosi Mechi Intra-state link, barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects. This could be the first step towards resolving the flood woos of North Bihar which comes as a big hindrance to the development of the state. The state has been demanding a permanent solution to flood management as it involves collaboration with Nepal. Recently, JDU working president and MP Sanjay Jha met Sitharaman and raised the issue with her. Even during the all-party meeting before the Parliament session, Jha raised the issue.
New airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure will also be constructed in Bihar, she said.
The finance minister announced development of a Maha Bodhi Corridor in Bodhgaya and a Vishnupad Corridor in Gaya on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. The land acquisition for the Maha Bodhi Corridor is already in progress and the central government will offer financial assistance to expedite it, though it has not been quantified in the budget. Funds will also be provided for developing Nalanda and Rajgir as international tourist destinations.
Under Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor, Gaya has been selected to be the industrial hub and industrial node.
( Originally published on Jul 23, 2024 )
