"PM to Inaugurate and Lay Foundation Stones for Projects Worth ₹1.64 Lakh Crore in Bihar Next Month"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for an array of projects valued at over ₹1.64 lakh crore during his visit to Bihar on March 2nd. These projects encompass various sectors including the expansion of the Barauni refinery, fertiliser plant, and significant enhancements to railway infrastructure.

Scheduled to tour Aurangabad and Begusarai districts, PM Modi's visit marks his first to Bihar following the formation of the BJP-led government in coalition with the JD(U) in January. Additionally, the announcement of polling dates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections is expected within the next fortnight.

The bulk of these projects, spanning across Bihar and other parts of the country, are attributed to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of Fertilisers, and Indian Railways, as per sources.

A notable highlight of the Prime Minister's visit is the inauguration and foundation stone laying for MoPNG projects worth nearly ₹1.50 lakh crore, spanning Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Karnataka. This occasion stands out as one of the rare instances where such a large number of critical oil and gas projects are being initiated by a Prime Minister.

In the petroleum sector alone, 39 projects with a combined value of ₹1,49,823 crore will either be inaugurated or have foundation stones laid. Among these, projects worth more than ₹15,000 crore are earmarked for Bihar.

Key projects include the capacity expansion project of Indian Oil Corporation’s Barauni refinery, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation’s Visakh Refinery Modernisation Project, and the capacity expansion of IOC’s Panipat refinery.

Furthermore, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for railway projects valued at over ₹4,700 crore. These include gauge conversions and line doublings aimed at enhancing connectivity and easing traffic congestion in various regions of Bihar.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will dedicate Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan’s (HURL) Barauni fertiliser plant in Begusarai district, boasting a production capacity of 12.7 lakh tonnes per annum, at a cost exceeding ₹9,500 crore.

HBL