Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar and West Bengal on August 22 to launch a wide array of development projects valued at over $2.1 billion, aimed at transforming connectivity, healthcare, energy, and urban infrastructure in both states.
The day-long tour begins in Gaya, Bihar, where Modi will dedicate initiatives worth nearly $1.6 billion to the public. Among the highlights is the inauguration of the 8.15 km-long Aunta–Simaria bridge on NH-31, which includes a six-lane structure across the Ganga built at a cost of more than $224 million. This project will dramatically shorten travel distances for heavy vehicles, removing the need for detours exceeding 60 miles, while also easing congestion near Simaria Dham.
The Prime Minister will also open the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama stretch of NH-31, valued at $228 million, and improvements on the Bikramganj–Dumraon corridor of NH-120 to enhance rural connectivity. A significant boost to Bihar’s energy capacity will come from the Buxar Thermal Power Plant, a $828 million investment that will help meet rising electricity demand.
In the healthcare sector, Modi will dedicate the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Muzaffarpur, a state-of-the-art facility offering affordable oncology treatment. Urban development projects under Namami Gange and AMRUT 2.0 will also be launched, including sewerage works in Munger and water supply projects in Bodhgaya, Jehanabad, and Aurangabad. Additionally, he will hand over homes to nearly 16,000 families under the PMAY housing scheme and flag off two new trains: the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, and a Buddhist Circuit train to promote tourism.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will travel to Kolkata, West Bengal, to inaugurate metro projects worth more than $624 million. These include three new sections spanning 13.6 km: Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah–Esplanade, and Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. Travel time between Sealdah and Esplanade will shrink from 40 minutes to just 11. Modi will also ride the new airport metro link during his visit.
To further boost regional connectivity, he will inaugurate a subway at Howrah Metro Station and lay the foundation stone for the $144 million Kona Expressway expansion, a six-lane elevated road designed to strengthen links between Kolkata, Howrah, and nearby trade hubs.
Through these projects, the government aims to accelerate growth, ease travel, and provide modern infrastructure that directly benefits millions of citizens in Bihar and West Bengal.
