Bihar’s progress is key to India’s progress: PM Modi

Hajipur (Bihar) : In a bid to regain his lost pride in Bihar after BJP’s dismal performance in the assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the progress of Bihar is key to India’s progress and added that the nerve centre of India’s development is in the eastern parts of the country.

“Bihar is a priority for us because we feel Bihar’s progress is key to India’s progress. There has to be complete modernisation of the Railways. Rail is not just a mode of transportation but is also a medium which can give impetus to growth in any economy,” Prime Minister Modi said at the inauguration of the newly constructed Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge in Hajipur.

“The nerve centre of India’s development is in eastern parts of the country. Rail, Roads and infrastructure have the strength to not only lay foundation for development but also accelerate growth. I am hopeful that the Centre and the state government will work together, shoulder to shoulder to bring in development in Bihar,” he added.

The Prime Minister also stated that India’s sustainable development is important for the eastern parts of the country to develop.

“If it was not neglected for the last ten years, then it would have been completed in five-seven years. This project of Rs. 600 crore got delayed and due to this, the cost of the project went up to Rs. 3000 crore. We have to address the present needs of the people but at the same time we need to create long term systems,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Patna today on a day-long visit to Bihar to dedicate to the nation the newly constructed Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge and inaugurate a new rail bridge in Munger.

The Prime Minister also kick-started the operation of the goods trains on the newly constructed rail portion of Munger Rail-Cum Road Bridge from Sahebpur Kamal end in Begusarai district.

Later in the day, he will also lay the foundation stone of the additional rail bridge near existing Rajendra Bridge in Mokama over the river Ganga. (ANI)