PM set to shower state with ₹9k-crore projects, address rally in Siwan today
1
2
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.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India rises in QS World Rankings, 54 institutions ranked in 2026 list
India's higher education institutes scaled up global rankings with a record 54 universities being pegged as the global best, according to QS World University Rankings in 2026. It is up from 46 in 2025 and 45 in 2024, making India's representation the fourth-largest after the US, UK, and China. The number will rise further, said education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the back of India's National Education Policy's thrust on research, innovation, and internationalisation. 'Our government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India's youth,' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. IIRF also came out with India's top research institutes on Thursday.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Datanomics: Despite gains, Brics still lags behind G7 in per capita terms
Shikha Chaturvedi New Delhi Listen to This Article The G7 summit, which concluded on Wednesday in Canada, brought together the world's leading advanced economies to address key global challenges including economic resilience, geopolitical tensions, and climate action. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the G7 leaders' parleys as a special invitee. In early July, the 17th Brics summit will be held in Rio De Janeiro. The grouping, founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009, was initially seen as a forum for developing economies, but has since evolved into a major economic force. Over the past two decades, it has overtaken the G7 in terms of its share of global
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business Standard
PM Modi's 'make in India' strikes emotional chord with the consumers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'make-in-India' programme seems to have struck an emotional chord with Indian consumers. A survey conducted by McKinsey says that as much as 68 per cent of the respondents feel that in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, they would purchase a product made by 'locally-owned companies,' catapulting India to the top among 18 countries. This trend is also three percentage points higher compared to the previous quarter (Q1) of 2025. But the nationalistic spirit is not limited to only India. In China — which is involved in an aggressive trade battle with the US over high tariffs — consumers seem to be moving back towards local goods. The survey shows that 58 per cent of the respondents in China want to buy local products in Q2 of 2025. This has gone up sharply by 7 per cent over the previous quarter. In the US, with President Donald Trump's aggressive calls for 'make in USA' or 'Making America Great Again', 52 per cent of the respondents in the country want to buy local products in Q2 of 2025. It is up by four percentage points compared to Q1. In Canada, Trump's call to convert the country into a US state led to the boycott of American products there. This explains again the 8 percentage points increase in Canadian respondents (hitting 61 per cent) in Q2. They said they would buy more local products over the previous quarter. The research was based on quizzing 25,998 consumers across 18 countries between April 26 and May 5, and included Gen Z customers as part of the McKinsey ConsumerWise Sentiment Survey of Q2, 2025. What is also interesting is that Gen Z consumers in India seem to have the highest propensity to 'splurge' on buying products and services compared to other age groups (like millennials, generation X and baby boomers) according to the survey. Asked a question on products and services they would like to spend money on and if they plan to 'splurge' in the next three months, over 80 per cent in India answered in the positive, again. This puts India at the top of the pecking order. It is ahead of countries like the UAE (over 75 per cent said yes), China (75 per cent ), Saudi Arabia, Canada, European Union countries, Brazil, Japan, Australia, US, Mexico and South Korea. Not only that, as much as 38 per cent of the Gen Z respondents in India said they use the 'buy now pay later' services to make purchases. This helps them in splurging despite not having enough money. Gen Zs have been identified as those born between 1996 and 2010, the first generation which has grown up in a digital world and reached adolescence during the pandemic. What the survey brings to the fore is that among overall consumers, while there is worry about rising prices, a larger proportion of them plan to keep splurging. Even here, India tops the list — while 40 per cent of consumers say that they are concerned about rising prices, only 31 per cent of them intend to splurge. The rest intend not to.
