Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced ambitious plans for Bihar during his recent election rallies in Sheohar and Sitamarhi. He declared that if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is voted into power, the state will see the establishment of a defense corridor, with factories set up in every district to boost local industry.
Shah expressed strong confidence in the NDA’s electoral prospects, predicting a decisive victory over the RJD-Congress alliance by the time election results are declared. He emphasized the historical issue of devastating floods caused by the Gandak, Koshi, and Ganga rivers in Bihar, pledging that an NDA government would form a dedicated commission to achieve a “flood-free Bihar.” Additionally, he promised to harness the Koshi river’s waters to irrigate 50,000 hectares in the Mithilanchal region.
Expanding on development initiatives, the Home Minister stated that the NDA would focus on building MSME and industrial parks across the state. He also revealed plans to inaugurate a Vande Bharat train service connecting Sitamarhi to Ayodhya on the auspicious day of the Sita temple’s consecration. Shah highlighted his own participation in the groundbreaking ceremony for the 850-crore Sita temple at Punaura Dham in Sheohar.
Criticizing the Congress, Shah remarked on past approaches to militancy, contrasting them with the current government’s actions. He asserted that the Narendra Modi-led administration responded to the Pahalgam attack by neutralizing terrorists on their own soil within ten days. He further suggested that future military operations would utilize explosives produced in Bihar’s upcoming defense corridor.
Further outlining regional development, Shah announced that the Mithilanchal region would be transformed into a global knowledge center with an investment of ₹500 crore, and the Sitamarhi-Ayodhya Ramjanaki Path would be constructed for ₹550 crore. An additional ₹5,000 crore is earmarked for doubling the Ayodhya-Sitamarhi rail track.
The NDA also aims to upgrade Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea, and Bhagalpur airports to international standards and ensure that every district in Bihar has its own medical college. Shah drew a comparison of financial allocations, stating that the current Prime Minister sanctioned ₹18.70 lakh crore to Bihar over ten years, significantly more than the ₹2.80 lakh crore allocated during the RJD-Congress rule. He attributed the past tenure of Lalu Prasad to being rife with scams, affirming that only the Nitish Kumar-Narendra Modi partnership can deliver a truly developed Bihar.
Finally, Shah pledged to revive all closed sugar mills in Bihar within a two-and-a-half-year timeframe, underscoring the NDA’s commitment to economic rejuvenation.