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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Road Connectivity: ₹26,000 crore will be invested in major road projects, including the Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, and spurs to Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Darbhanga. A new two-lane bridge over the Ganges at Buxar is also part of this plan.
NEW DELHI: In a significant move to strengthen ties with key allies, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled substantial financial packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget 2024-25, announced on Tuesday.
The government has earmarked ₹47,400 crore for Bihar, addressing key infrastructural and developmental needs. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman detailed the following allocations for Bihar:
Road Connectivity: ₹26,000 crore will be invested in major road projects, including the Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, and spurs to Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Darbhanga. A new two-lane bridge over the Ganges at Buxar is also part of this plan.
Power and Infrastructure: A new 2400 MW power plant will be established in Pirpaiti with an investment of ₹21,400 crore. Additionally, the government will support the construction of new airports, medical colleges, and sports facilities across the state.
Tourism and Industry: The development of religious tourism in Gaya and Bodhgaya will be promoted, with plans to enhance Nalanda and Rajgir as tourist destinations. An industrial hub will be developed in Gaya as part of the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor.
Sitharaman emphasised, “Bihar’s development will be accelerated through a multi-investment bank, and efforts will be made to resolve flood issues through discussions with Nepal.”
For Andhra Pradesh, a special financial package of ₹15,000 crore has been allocated, focusing on infrastructure and capital development:
The ₹15,000 crore allocation will support the development of Amaravati, the state’s capital city, which has been a key project for Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. This support will be extended in subsequent years based on project progress.
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New industrial corridors, including the Visakhapatnam-Chennai-Orvakal-Hyderabad and Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridors, will be established to enhance regional connectivity and economic growth.
The government remains committed to completing the Pollavaram irrigation project, crucial for Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural sector.
Financial aid will be provided for essential infrastructure in water, power, railways, and roads, with grants for backward regions such as Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Sitharaman remarked, “Our government is dedicated to fulfilling the commitments of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and we are ensuring substantial financial support for the state’s development.”
The budget allocations underscore the government’s strategy to keep its allies, the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar and the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, satisfied after their crucial role in securing the NDA’s third consecutive term. Both Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu had supported the NDA, despite efforts by the Opposition-led INDIA bloc to sway them.
