Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a major development push in Purnea, Bihar, by laying the foundation stone and inaugurating projects worth around Rs 40,000 crore on Sunday. This big boost covers everything from railways and airports to power and water initiatives, aiming to transform the Seemanchal region and fulfill long-standing dreams of locals.
Speaking to a huge crowd, PM Modi started with warm greetings, calling Purnea the sacred land of Maa Puran Devi, Bhakt Prahlad, and Maharshi Mehi Baba. He praised the region’s literary stars like Phanishwarnath Renu and Satinath Bhaduri, and remembered karmayogis like Vinoba Bhave. “This soil holds a special place in my heart,” he said, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The star of the day? Delivering permanent homes to over 40,000 families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). PM Modi called it a fresh start for these families, especially with festivals like Dhanteras, Diwali, and Chhath Puja coming up. “Stepping into your own home before these joyous times is pure luck,” he said, congratulating everyone and promising more. Over the last 11 years, his government has built over four crore homes for the poor, and now they’re targeting three crore more. “I won’t rest until every poor family has a roof,” he vowed, putting the marginalized at the heart of his mission.
It was also Engineers’ Day, so PM Modi honored M. Visvesvaraya and thanked engineers for building a stronger India and Bihar. Right there in Purnea, he spotlighted their quick work on the new airport terminal, built in under five months. He inaugurated the terminal and flagged off the first commercial flight, putting Purnea on India’s aviation map. Now, direct flights will link Seemanchal to big cities and business hubs, making travel easier than ever.
Rail fans got exciting news too. PM Modi flagged off a Vande Bharat Express from Jogbani to Danapur, two Amrit Bharat trains (Saharsa to Amritsar and Jogbani to Erode), and a passenger train. He inaugurated the Araria-Galgalia rail line and laid the foundation for the Vikramshila-Kataria line. Plus, the government greenlit the Mokama-Munger section of the Buxar-Bhagalpur high-speed corridor, which will supercharge industries in Munger, Jamalpur, and Bhagalpur. They also approved doubling the Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat line. “We’re connecting Bihar with world-class rails,” he cheered.
Powering up Bihar’s future, PM Modi inaugurated a massive 2400 MW thermal power plant in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur—Bihar’s biggest private investment at Rs 25,000 crore. It uses clean, low-emission tech to boost energy security. For farmers, he laid the foundation for Phase 1 of the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link Project (Rs 2,680 crore), expanding canals to irrigate lakhs of hectares, fight floods, and build farm resilience in northeastern districts.
Bihar’s famous makhana farmers got a huge win. PM Modi announced the launch of the National Makhana Board, notified just a day earlier. Bihar produces 90% of India’s makhana, with hubs like Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Purnea thriving on fertile soil. The board will ramp up production, introduce new tech, improve processing, and boost exports—backed by a Rs 475 crore plan for better prices and global branding. “We promised it, and now it’s here to empower our makhana growers,” he said, slamming past governments for ignoring the crop.
PM Modi didn’t hold back on Bihar’s growth story. He stressed that India’s rise depends on Bihar’s progress, and Seemanchal is key to that. Past mismanagement caused huge setbacks, but now, the region is front and center. He highlighted wins like hosting the Hockey Asia Cup in Rajgir, the Aunta-Simaria bridge, and exporting Bihar-made rail engines to Africa. “This pace of development bothers those who looted Bihar for decades,” he said, calling out opposition parties for insults—like comparing Bihar to a cheap bidi on social media.
He accused them of scams that stole from the poor, unlike his direct benefits: free rations since COVID, and up to Rs 5 lakh free treatment under Ayushman Bharat. “Did they ever build hospitals or deliver like this?” he asked. On a serious note, PM Modi raised alarms about illegal infiltration threatening Seemanchal’s demographics and safety, especially for women. He pledged his “Demography Mission” to seal borders and remove infiltrators. “This is my guarantee—Indian law will win,” he declared, challenging defenders to face the people of Bihar and India.
Shifting to empowerment, he celebrated Bihar’s women as the force behind 20 years of change. From victims of crime under old regimes, they’re now Lakhpati Didis and Drone Didis through self-help groups like Jeevika. He released Rs 500 crore as a Community Investment Fund to fuel women’s ventures in villages. “For me, every citizen is family—I care about your expenses and savings,” he said.
With festivals nearing, PM Modi announced a timely gift: GST cuts starting September 22, right before Navratri. Everyday items like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, ghee, food products, stationery, clothes, and shoes will cost less, easing kitchen budgets and school needs. “A caring government delivers real relief,” he added.
Wrapping up, he recalled Purnea’s freedom fighters and tied it to modern strength, like Operation Sindoor led by a local hero. Bihar’s role in national security and development is unmatched, he said, urging everyone to keep the momentum going.
Dignitaries including Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Union Ministers like Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Chirag Paswan joined the event.
Other highlights: PM Modi inaugurated a sex-sorted semen facility in Purnea under Rashtriya Gokul Mission—the first in eastern India. It can produce 5 lakh doses yearly using homegrown tech, helping farmers get more female calves for better dairy income. He also joined virtual Griha Pravesh ceremonies for 35,000 rural and 5,920 urban PMAY beneficiaries, handing keys to some. These steps underline Bihar’s push towards self-reliance in power, farming, and connectivity.
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