ANWARUL HODA / AMN —
Ahead of election in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package for Bihar. Addressing a meeting in Ara PM said in addition to this Rs 40,657 crore will also be given for highways and energy sectors in Bihar. He said this package will change fate of Bihar and development work will be speeded up. Mr.Modi said the centre is committed for all round development of the state. Prime Minister said earlier government at Centre has given 12 thousand crore in two installments as package but state could not spend eight thousand crore till today. Mr.Modi said there will not be development without making comprehensive plan.
Prime Minister said without development of eastern parts of the country including Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and North Eastern states, the country could not develop. Castigating Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Prime Minister said if Bihar is not BIMARU state, why he is demanding help from centre in different sectors. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone of 11-National Highway Projects of 700 kilometres length at a capital cost of 9,700 crore rupees at Ara in Bihar.
Modi also inaugurated the first phase of Skill Development Centre in Bihar. He also laid foundation stone of the state’s first regional Vocational Training Institute for Women in Patna. This is his third rally after Muzaffarpur and Gaya in the poll-bound state.
Special package for Bihar is not a demand but it is a right: Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav have sharply reacted over announcement of Bihar package by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a tweet Mr. Nitish Kumar said a special package is not a demand but it is a right.
Lalu Prasad Yadav said Prime Minister has promised to give special status to Bihar but he had announced a special package for the state. He said there is a difference between a special package and a special status to Bihar.
Distribution of Bihar Package 2015 – Rs 1,25,003 crore
| Sectors | Amount | Highlights |
| Farmer’s Welfare | Rs 3,094 cr | · Up-gradation of Rajendra Prasad Agriculture University to Central University, creation of new Research Centre· Development of Fisheries, Farm water management,Storage capacity, Farm mechanisation, Seed productionsystems· Construction of new Godowns for foodgrains |
| Education | Rs 1,000 cr | · Central University near Bhagalpur· IIM at Bodhgaya |
| Skill Development | Rs 1,550 cr | · Establishment of Mega Skill University· Training of 1 lakh youth |
| Health | Rs 600 cr | · Up-gradation of 3 medical colleges at Patna, Bhagalpur, Gaya |
| Electricity | Rs 16,130 cr | · 1,300 MW new power plant at Buxor· Electrification of villages under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Vidyut Yojana (sufficient for farms, uninterrupted for homes)· Electrification of towns–cities under Integrated Power Development Scheme |
| Rural Roads | Rs 13,820 cr | · 22,500 kms of Rural Roads |
| Highways | Rs 54,713 cr | · 2,775 kms of National Highways (four-laning & widening)· Construction of Bridges (across Ganga, Sone, Kosi)· Construction of 12 Rail overbridges |
| Railways | Rs 8,870 cr | · Doubling and Tripling of 676 kms of Railway line· Electrification of 574 kms |
| Airports | Rs 2,700 cr | · Construction of new airport at Patna· Development of airports at Gaya, Raxaul, Purnea |
| Digital Bihar | Rs 449 cr | · Software Technology Parks, Rural BPOs, Training Centres· 1,000 new Mobile towers to increase coverage and quality· 30 WiFi hotspots across prominent tourist places· Common Service Centres to be scaled up from 8,800 to 26,000 |
| Petroleum & Gas | Rs 21,476 cr | · Expansion of Barauni Refinery + new Petrochemical Plant· Construction of Gas pipelines, new LPG plants and massive expansion in domestic LPG connections· Petrol-Diesel pipeline from Raxaul to Nepal |
| Tourism | Rs 600 cr | · Development of 7 Tourist circuits |
| Total | Rs 1,25,003 cr |
Other Investments
| Category | Amount |
| Unspent amount of 2013 Package (of Rs 12,000 cr) | Rs 8,282 cr |
| Ongoing works of National Highways | Rs 12,375 cr |
| UMPP (Ultra Mega Power Project) in Banka under PPP | Rs 20,000 cr |
| Total | Rs 40,657 cr |
| Tax Relief on new Capital Investment for galvanizing Industrial Development |
| Prime Minister’s Bihar Package over and above on-going national social sector schemes:Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana, MUDRA, Free LPG connections to BPL, Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan and so on |