-PM Modi Launches ₹5,000 Crore Projects in Bihar and Bengal; Durgapur Public Meeting Highlights Growth Push
Patna/Durgapur — With the launch and foundation laying of projects valued at over ₹5,000 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-stakes trip to Bihar and West Bengal today represents an important political and developmental milestone ahead of the next elections. The tour demonstrates the Center’s goal to expand its development reach throughout eastern India, which is frequently referred to as a politically complex and economically underserved region.
The Prime Minister started the day in Bihar, where he officially opened a number of welfare and infrastructure projects that included modernizing fisheries, national highways, railways, and rural development. According to people familiar with the situation, the prime minister is eager to establish Bihar as an emerging hub in India’s larger industrial and logistical corridors, rather than just as a recipient of central programs.
Modi took a plane from Bihar to Durgapur, West Bengal, where he laid the groundwork for a new IT and electronics manufacturing park. This project is anticipated to create a significant number of jobs and draw in mid-sized investments. Along with launching new rail services to enhance connectivity between the northeastern states and Bengal’s industrial belt, he also announced significant improvements to the railway networks, such as the modernization of Durgapur and Andal stations.
Speaking at a massive public rally in Durgapur, PM Modi said,
Development is happening twice as quickly under this double-engine government. We are laying the foundation for a new future for the young people of Bengal and Bihar, not just constructing roads and railroads.”
The visuals were just as powerful. Senior BJP leaders and allies at the state level flanked Modi as he spoke, drawing a stark political contrast with state governments controlled by the opposition. He quietly attacked the current West Bengal government, saying they were “blocking central schemes” and not carrying out projects that would help the poor.
The ₹5,000 crore package consists of the following:
• Railway line doubling and electrification projects;
• Advanced fisheries projects aimed at empowering coastal and riverine communities;
• Improved rural infrastructure and road connectivity under PMGSY;
• Smart city initiatives and water resource projects
The visit is seen by political analysts as part of a two-pronged strategy to boost voter confidence in BJP strongholds and swing constituencies while also accelerating economic development in underserved areas. In an attempt to revitalize Bengal’s manufacturing base and gain ground on Trinamool Congress territory, the historic industrial town of Durgapur was chosen.
This visit and the announcements that go along with it have strong electoral overtones, as the Lok Sabha elections are less than a year away. According to BJP insiders, the party’s eastern India strategy will revolve around the development narrative and delivery record.
The crowd’s shout of “Modi hai toh mumkin hai” reverberated loudly as the Prime Minister’s convoy pulled out of Durgapur, possibly indicating that the political tides in Bengal and Bihar were about to change.
