Two-state tour: PM Modi to visit Bihar, West Bengal on August 22; what's on agenda
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
is set to travel to Bihar and West Bengal on August 22 to launch and inaugurate a wide range of development initiatives worth more than Rs 18,000 crore.
The PM's engagements include laying foundation stones, inaugurating key infrastructure projects, and flagging off new train services aimed at improving connectivity, health, power supply, and urban development in both states.
The Prime Minister will first arrive in Gaya, Bihar, at around 11 am, where he is scheduled to dedicate projects worth nearly Rs 13,000 crore to the public. Later in the afternoon, at around 4.15 pm, he will move to Kolkata to launch metro services and urban infrastructure projects worth over Rs 5,200 crore. He will also address gatherings in both states.
Focus on Bihar
Connectivity, power, health and urban development will be at the centre of the Prime Minister's Bihar visit.
One of the key highlights will be the inauguration of the 8.15 km-long Aunta–Simaria bridge on NH-31, including a new 1.86 km six-lane bridge across the Ganga. Built at a cost of over Rs 1,870 crore, it provides direct connectivity between Mokama in Patna district and Begusarai. The bridge is expected to significantly cut travel distances for heavy vehicles which currently face a detour of more than 100 km due to the poor condition of the old Rajendra Setu.
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Officials said the new structure would also ease congestion and improve access to Simaria Dham, the birthplace of poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.
Along with this, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section of NH-31, a project worth about Rs 1,900 crore. Work on the Bikramganj–Dawath–Nawanagar–Dumraon section of NH-120 has also been completed to enhance rural road connectivity and promote economic activity in smaller towns.
A major addition to Bihar's power capacity will come from the Buxar Thermal Power Plant (660×1 MW), constructed at a cost of Rs 6,880 crore. The project will help meet rising electricity demand and strengthen energy security in the state.
On the health front, the Prime Minister will dedicate the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Muzaffarpur to the public. Equipped with modern facilities such as Oncology OPD, ICU, HDU, operation theatres and a blood bank, the hospital will provide affordable cancer treatment to patients in Bihar and nearby states.
In the field of urban development, PM Modi will inaugurate sewerage projects worth over Rs 520 crore in Munger under Namami Gange and lay the foundation stone for similar works in Daudnagar, Jehanabad, Barahiya and Jamui. Water supply projects under AMRUT 2.0 at Aurangabad, Bodhgaya and Jehanabad will also be launched.
Additionally, he will flag off two new trains. The Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi will feature improved passenger facilities, while the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma is expected to boost tourism across key Buddhist heritage sites.
He will also participate in a Grih Pravesh ceremony for 12,000 rural and 4,260 urban beneficiaries under PMAY by handing over keys to some families.
Focus on West Bengal
Later in the day, the Prime Minister will visit Kolkata to unveil metro projects that aim to transform connectivity within the city. He will inaugurate three new metro sections covering 13.61 km and flag off services on the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah–Esplanade, and Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay routes.
During his visit to Jessore Road station, he will undertake a metro ride to the airport and back.
These projects are expected to reduce travel times significantly. For example, the Sealdah–Esplanade section will reduce commuting time from nearly 40 minutes to just 11 minutes. The new link to Jai Hind Bimanbandar is likely to improve airport access, while the Beleghata route will strengthen connectivity with the city's IT hub.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate a newly built subway at Howrah Metro Station and lay the foundation stone for the six-lane Kona Expressway, a 7.2 km elevated road project worth over Rs 1,200 crore. This project will enhance links between Howrah, Kolkata and surrounding areas, cutting travel time and supporting trade, commerce and tourism.
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