Prime Minister launched and inaugurated infrastructure, connectivity, energy, healthcare, and education projects worth ₹71,850 crore across Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. The projects include new railway links, express trains, highways, bridges, medical institutions, clean energy initiatives, and major investments in Bihar’s thermal power sector.
These initiatives aim to strengthen regional connectivity, socio-economic growth, energy security, and public services, while also holding strategic and political significance with Bihar heading to elections.
State-Wise Key Highlights
Mizoram
- Projects worth: ₹9,000 crore.
Bairabi–Sairang Rail Line:
- Cost: ₹8,070 crore.
- Features: 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 88 minor bridges.
- Provides first direct rail connectivity of Aizawl (state capital) with the Indian Railways network.
New Express Trains Flagged Off:
- Sairang–Delhi (Anand Vihar) Rajdhani Express.
- Sairang–Guwahati Express.
- Sairang–Kolkata Express.
Other Projects:
- Aizawl Bypass Road (₹500 crore).
- LPG Bottling Plant at Mualkhang.
- Khelo India Multipurpose Indoor Hall (Tuikual).
- Residential schools in Mamit and Tlangnuam.
- Foundation stone for Chhimtuipui River Bridge on Lawngtlai–Siaha road (linked to Kaladan multimodal transit project for cross-border trade with Myanmar).
Manipur
- Projects worth: ₹7,300 crore (plus ₹8,500 crore separately listed).
Urban Infrastructure:
- Roads, drainage, and asset management improvement project (₹3,600 crore+).
- Five National Highway projects (₹2,500 crore+).
Special Projects:
- Manipur Infotech Development Project.
- Working Women’s Hostels at 9 locations (₹142 crore).
- New Manipur Police HQ (₹101 crore).
- Civil Secretariat (₹538 crore).
- Super-speciality healthcare for remote districts (₹105 crore).
- Strengthening of 120 schools across all 16 districts (₹134 crore).
Assam
Healthcare & Urban Mobility:
- Darrang Medical College & Hospital.
- Guwahati Ring Road Project → improves mobility & decongests capital city.
Connectivity Projects:
- Kuruwa–Narengi Bridge across Brahmaputra → boosts socio-economic development.
Energy Sector:
- Assam Bio-Ethanol Pvt Ltd inauguration.
- Foundation stone for Polypropylene Plant in Golaghat (clean energy & petrochemicals).
Bihar
- Projects worth: ₹36,000 crore.
Rail Connectivity:
- Bikramshila–Katareah Rail Line (₹2,170 crore) → direct rail link across the Ganga.
- Arariya–Galgalia (Thakurganj) Rail Line (₹4,410 crore).
- New Train Services:
- Jogbani–Danapur Vande Bharat Express.
- Amrit Bharat Trains (affordable non-AC services for low-income groups).
Major Investment:
- Pirpainti Thermal Power Plant (₹25,000 crore) – Bihar’s largest private investment.
Other Projects:
- Kosi–Mechi River Link Project.
- Sex-sorted semen facility (boost for dairy sector).
- PMAY–Griha Pravesh ceremonies for 40,000 beneficiaries.
- ₹500 crore to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM.
West Bengal
- Inauguration of infrastructure and energy projects forming part of the total ₹71,850 crore package.
Significance
Strategic Connectivity:
- Rail link to Mizoram’s capital Aizawl → boosts integration of Northeast with rest of India.
- Projects in Manipur and Assam enhance border state connectivity, vital for security and trade (esp. Kaladan multimodal project with Myanmar).
Healthcare & Education Boost:
- New medical colleges, hospitals, and school strengthening projects across Northeast.
Energy & Clean Tech:
- Bio-ethanol, polypropylene plant (Assam), and mega thermal power plant in Bihar.
Political Angle:
- Bihar projects significant ahead of state elections; PM’s repeated visits underline NDA’s developmental push.
Railway Facts
- Indian Railways is the 4th largest railway network in the world.
- First Passenger Train in India: 1853 (Mumbai–Thane).
- Vande Bharat Express: India’s first semi-high-speed train (2019).
- Amrit Bharat Trains: Introduced in 2023, affordable long-distance non-AC trains.
Northeast Connectivity
- Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project: Connects India’s eastern seaport (Kolkata) to Mizoram via Myanmar (Sittwe Port → Kaladan River → road to Mizoram)
- Sairang (Aizawl) Rail Project: One of India’s most challenging rail projects due to difficult terrain.
Energy
- Bio-ethanol plants: Support India’s 20% ethanol blending target by 2025-26.
- Pirpainti Power Plant: Bihar’s largest private investment in the energy sector.
Geography & Borders
- Mizoram & Manipur: Share international borders with Myanmar.
- Assam: Located in the Brahmaputra Valley; critical for Act East Policy.
- Bihar: Crisscrossed by the Ganga; prone to annual floods, making river link projects significant.
Mizoram
- Capital: Aizawl
- Borders: Myanmar & Bangladesh
- Known for: Bamboo & shifting cultivation (Jhum)
- First Railway Link established in 2025 (Bairabi–Sairang Line).
Manipur
- Capital: Imphal
- Famous for: Loktak Lake (largest freshwater lake in NE India).
- Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (Imphal).
Assam
- Capital: Dispur (Guwahati)
- Major River: Brahmaputra
- Famous for: Assam Tea, Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO).
- India’s largest onshore oilfield: Digboi, Assam.
Bihar
- Capital: Patna
- Major Rivers: Ganga, Kosi, Gandak
- Historical Sites: Nalanda, Bodh Gaya (UNESCO site).
- Famous Express Train: Vande Bharat now extended to Bihar.
West Bengal
- Capital: Kolkata
- Major Port: Kolkata Port & Haldia Port
- Sunderbans – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.