Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Bihar and West Bengal today, August 22, 2025, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over ₹18,200 crore. These projects aim to boost connectivity, infrastructure, power, health, and urban development in both states.

Bihar Initiatives

The Prime Minister's engagements in Bihar, scheduled to begin at Gaya around 11 AM, include the dedication of projects worth nearly ₹13,000 crore to the public. A key focus is improving connectivity. The inauguration of the Aunta-Simaria bridge project on NH-31, including the 1.86 km long six-lane bridge over the Ganga, built at a cost of over ₹1,870 crore, is a major highlight. This bridge will provide direct connectivity between Mokama in Patna and Begusarai, reducing the travel distance for heavy vehicles by over 100 km and easing traffic congestion. It is constructed parallel to the old, dilapidated Rajendra Setu. A senior official mentioned that the PM is expected to pause for approximately 30 minutes at Simaria and take a walk on the newly built bridge. The foundation stone for the Aunta-Simaria section of NH-31 was laid on October 14, 2017.

Other projects in Bihar include the inauguration of the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31, developed at a cost of around ₹1,900 crore. Improvements to the Bikramganj-Dawath-Nawanagar-Dumraon section of NH-120 will also be inaugurated.

In the power sector, the Prime Minister will dedicate the ₹6,880 crore Buxar Thermal Power Plant to the nation, enhancing Bihar's electricity supply and meeting rising energy demand. Healthcare infrastructure will also receive a boost with the inauguration of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Muzaffarpur. This state-of-the-art hospital is equipped with advanced oncology facilities, ICU wards, and modern labs, and will provide affordable cancer treatment to patients in Bihar and neighboring states.

Additionally, under the Namami Gange program, PM Modi will inaugurate a sewerage treatment plant and network at Munger, worth over ₹520 crore, aimed at reducing pollution in the Ganga and improving sanitation.

The Prime Minister will also flag off two new train services: the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma. Furthermore, a Grih Pravesh ceremony will be held for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and PMAY-Urban, with the symbolic handover of keys to some beneficiaries.

West Bengal Initiatives

Later in the day, around 4:15 PM, the Prime Minister will travel to Kolkata to launch metro services and urban infrastructure projects worth over ₹5,200 crore. He will inaugurate three new metro sections covering 13.61 km and flag off services on the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah–Esplanade, and Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay routes.

Specifically, the Prime Minister will visit the Jessore Road Metro Station, where he will flag off the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro service and undertake a metro ride to the airport and back. Through video conferencing, he will also flag off the Sealdah–Esplanade metro service and the Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay metro service. These projects are expected to significantly reduce travel times. For example, the Sealdah–Esplanade section will reduce commuting time from nearly 40 minutes to just 11 minutes. The new link to Jai Hind Bimanbandar is likely to improve airport access, while the Beleghata route will strengthen connectivity with the city's IT hub.

In addition to the metro projects, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a newly built subway at Howrah Metro Station and lay the foundation stone for the six-lane Kona Expressway, a 7.2 km elevated road project worth over ₹1,200 crore. This project will enhance links between Howrah, Kolkata, and surrounding areas, cutting travel time and supporting trade, commerce, and tourism.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been invited to the Metro Railway program but is likely to miss the event.