Karakat, Bihar — In a significant pre-election push, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a series of infrastructure initiatives worth over ₹48,520 crore during his visit to Karakat, Bihar. The projects span across power, road, rail, and aviation sectors, underscoring the government’s focus on accelerating economic and infrastructure development in the state ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The event was attended by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, union ministers, and senior officials.
Major Power Sector Initiative
One of the key highlights was the foundation stone laying of the Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II, in Aurangabad district. With a proposed investment of ₹29,930 crore, the project is expected to bolster energy security, create employment, and ensure affordable electricity for Bihar and eastern India.
Expansion of Road Infrastructure
The Prime Minister also initiated several critical road infrastructure projects, including:
- Four-laning of the Patna–Arrah–Sasaram highway
- Six-laning of the Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata highway
- A new bridge over the Ganga between Buxar and Bharauli
- Inauguration of the Four-Laning of Patna–Gaya–Dobhi highway (₹5,520 crore)
- Upgradation of the elevated highway in Gopalganj
These projects aim to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and boost regional trade and logistics.
Rail Connectivity Improvements
In the rail sector, Modi dedicated the newly completed third rail line between Son Nagar and Mohammad Ganj, built at a cost of ₹1,330 crore. This addition is expected to ease congestion on existing routes and enhance freight movement efficiency. He also laid the foundation stone for the upcoming Harding Park Station in Patna, which will feature five terminals to better manage growing passenger traffic.
Boost to Aviation Sector
On Thursday, the Prime Minister inaugurated a new passenger terminal at Patna Airport, developed at a cost of ₹1,200 crore, with an annual handling capacity of 1 crore passengers. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for a new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, worth ₹1,410 crore. The new facility will cater to the region’s rising air traffic, particularly from educational hubs like IIT Patna and the proposed NIT Patna campus.
Political Context
During his two-day visit, Modi also addressed BJP leaders in Patna, urging them to intensify grassroots-level engagement and strengthen the party’s outreach ahead of the polls.
These infrastructure initiatives are widely viewed as part of the government’s broader strategy to project a development-focused agenda as Bihar heads into election season.
