₹26,000 crore package for Bihar: Highways, airports, and more

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹26,000 crore package for Bihar in the Union Budget 2024
• Key projects include highways, airports, medical colleges, sports infrastructure, and a power plant
• The budget also focuses on tourism and industrial development, including a tourism corridor in Bodh Gaya

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting her seventh Union Budget, announced a substantial ₹26,000 crore package for Bihar to support various infrastructure projects. This significant allocation aims to bolster the state's infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, and connectivity, benefiting the key ally Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United).

The package includes ₹20,000 crore for highways, with projects such as the Patna-Purnia Expressway and Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway. Additionally, the government will establish airports, medical colleges, sports infrastructure, and a 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti, costing ₹21,400 crore. The budget also provides ₹11,500 crore for flood mitigation in the state.

Sitharaman emphasized the Union government's commitment to Bihar, stating, "The union government will arrange financial assistance to Bihar through aid from multilateral development agencies." The announcement follows the Centre's rejection of JD(U)'s request for 'special category' status for Bihar.

The budget also focuses on developing Gaya as an industrial node and a tourism corridor in Bodh Gaya, modelled after Uttar Pradesh's Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor. Special funds are allocated for the Rajgir Jain temple site and redeveloping Nalanda as a religious tourist destination, enhancing Bihar's cultural and religious appeal.