PM set to shower state with ₹9k-crore projects, address rally in Siwan today
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Patna/Chhapra: Amid elaborate preparations and tight security, Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi
is set to address a mega public meeting at Jasoli village in Siwan district on Friday, marking yet another high-profile visit to Bihar in the run-up to the state assembly elections scheduled for Oct-Nov this year.
At the rally, Modi will launch and lay the foundation for 22 development projects worth Rs 9,519 crore, covering housing, railways, infrastructure and industrial growth. He will also flag off two major rail initiatives, the new Patliputra-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express and India's first export-bound locomotive to the Republic of Guinea from the Marhaura rail factory.
"This event reflects the PM's deep trust in CM Nitish Kumar's development model," said deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, adding that several high-value schemes are coming to the state due to this faith.
"The PM will inaugurate 11 Amrit Bharat and four Namami Gange projects and the Vaishali-Deoria rail line," he added.
The PM will also transfer the first instalment of PM Awas Yojana benefits to 53,666 beneficiaries and hand over keys to 6,684 urban poor families, securing their dream of a pucca house under the flagship housing scheme.
To combat heat and monsoon showers, five massive German tents, each with a capacity of 60,000 people, have been erected at the rally site.
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BJP leader and health minister Mangal Pandey said the venue is expected to host nearly three lakh people.
Among the standout projects the PM will launch is the inauguration of the Patliputra-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express, which will drastically cut travel time between Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The eight-coach semi-high-speed train, equipped with modern amenities and a capacity of 1,130 passengers, will operate six days a week, reducing travel time between the two cities by nearly two hours.
Commercial stops include Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah and Narkatiaganj, providing faster options for thousands of daily commuters.
"This new service will enhance regional connectivity and boost economic activity," said Danapur DRM Jayant Kumar Choudhary, calling it a milestone under the Vande Bharat mission.
Also in the spotlight is the first export consignment of locomotives from the Marhaura plant to Guinea.
These state-of-the-art 4,500 HP engines, featuring high fuel efficiency and modern air-conditioned cabs, are manufactured by Wabtec Locomotive Pvt Ltd, a joint venture with Indian Railways. Officials noted that the plant, built on 70 acres, has already delivered 683 locomotives to Indian Railways and employs over 600 people.
The new export order will see 150 more units produced, reinforcing Marhaura's revival as an industrial hub.
Meanwhile, Siwan is under a virtual lockdown ahead of the PM's visit. Traffic restrictions are in place on NH-531 and NH-27, and all schools and Anganwadi centres have been ordered shut for the day due to expected congestion and extreme heat.
"Safety and traffic management are paramount," said a senior district official. Seventeen parking zones have been set up in Jasoli Kharg and three more in Pachrukhi, while three helipads each have been prepared for the PM and CM.
While NDA leaders hailed the visit, opposition voices struck a critical note. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha took to social media to question the blanket closure of educational institutions. "Is this an election tour or a governance initiative?" he asked, adding that banning educational activities for a political rally sets the wrong precedent.
Choudhary dismissed such comments, calling them "cheap and frustrated reactions from the opposition" in the face of mounting public support for the BJP.
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