The JD(U) and TDP have made big gains as key allies of the National Democratic Alliance, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing new airports, highways medical colleges for Bihar and Special Financial Support for Andhra Pradesh in Budget 2024.
Bihar will get medical colleges, sports infrastructure and new airports. Rs 26,000 crore will be allocated for highways in Bihar, like Patna-Purnia, Buxar-Bhagalpur and Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga Expressway.
In Buxar a two-lane bridge will also be built over Ganga. A 2,400 MW power plant was also announced for the state with an industrial corridor node was planned for Gaya.
The Purvodaya initiative, which is part of the Modi governmment's plan to develop the eastern part of the country, now includes Bihar.
“We will formulate Purvodaya for all-round development of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh,” Sitharaman said.
This will include infrastructure development, more economic opportunities and human resources development as part of making the region a key goal in the government's Viksit Bharat Plan.
The Bihar government's request for external aid from multilateral development banks would be fast-tracked.
In Andhra Pradesh, the government will fund and complete the Pollavaram irrigation project for the benefit of the state's agriculture community. Funding will be made available for capital investment and to drive economic growth, which is crucial for Andhra Pradesh and its agricultural community.
"Our government is fully committed to financing and ensuring early completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, which is the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. This year, more funds will be allocated to boost capital investment and foster economic growth," Sitharaman said.
"Our government has made efforts to fulfil the commitments in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Recognising the state's need for capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multilateral agencies. In the current FY, Rs 15,000 crore will be arranged with additional amounts in future years," Sitharaman added.
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