Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bihar’s Siwan district on Friday, launched 28 development projects worth over ₹5,900 crore. Among the key highlights was the inauguration of the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line, constructed at a cost of more than ₹400 crore. Modi also flagged off a new train service on this route. Strengthening regional connectivity further, he flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra (Patna) and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah—providing a major boost to north Bihar’s rail infrastructure.
As part of the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ initiative, the PM flagged off a cutting-edge locomotive built at the Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. The locomotive features high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion, regenerative braking, and ergonomic cab design. In support of the Namami Gange mission, Modi also inaugurated six new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), developed at a cost of over ₹1,800 crore, and laid foundation stones for additional water supply and sanitation projects amounting to ₹3,000 crore.
In a significant push to the energy sector, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be set up across 15 grid substations, including in Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, and Motihari. With each substation equipped with batteries ranging from 20 to 80 MWh capacity, the system is expected to reduce peak-hour electricity costs and improve power reliability. Officials noted that the initiative would allow discoms to supply stored energy during high-demand hours, preventing costly electricity purchases and benefiting consumers.
Modi also distributed the first instalment to over 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and celebrated the Grih Pravesh (housewarming) for more than 6,600 completed homes by handing over keys to selected recipients. Highlighting the scale of development, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary remarked on X that the state eagerly awaited PM Modi’s visit, which marked his 51st trip to Bihar. The event was attended by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, CM Nitish Kumar, both Deputy CMs, Union ministers, and senior officials.
