There are two opposing views on the package received by Bihar in the Union Budget. On one hand, the opposition people are saying that this budget has become the budget of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. It means to say that a lot has been done for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh but the government has not paid attention to other states. On the other hand, RJD is calling this package a mess. Party people say that most of the schemes in this package are those which have been running for 5 years.
RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of the state Tejashwi Yadav writes on There is a strong need for special packaging. Tejashwi writes that those who call routine allocation and previously approved, determined and allotted schemes as a new gift should not insult Bihar. We will not step back even an inch from the demand for the status of a special state to stop migration, remove the backwardness of the state and for a better future for the industries as well as the youth.
Tejashwi’s words cannot be completely rejected. Nor can his words be considered completely correct. It should be accepted that whatever has been received cannot match the special status, but it is also no less. Because the budget includes three expressways worth Rs 26 thousand crores, 2400 MW power plant worth Rs 21 thousand crores. A proposal to provide a power plant, medical college and several airports is included. Let us see what is the reality and trap of the package received by Bihar?
Why is RJD telling Jhunjhuna?
It has been announced to give Rs 26 thousand crore to Bihar in the Union Budget. On this, former Chief Minister of Bihar Rabri Devi has responded that murder and theft are taking place in the state. The workers are not getting their wages. The youth are not getting jobs and the problems of farmers still persist. Allocating Rs 26 thousand crores to Bihar is equivalent to giving a shiver to Bihar.
Actually, the three road projects found in Bihar are the highways under Bharat Mala Project or East West Corridor. If you search about these road projects on Google, you will come to know that these projects have been in the news for many years. Pages of newspapers are being filled. BJP leaders have also been speaking about them among the public. According to Bihar Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen in Prabhat Khabar in October 2021, there is talk of connecting Vaishali, Rajgir and Bodhgaya through Amas-Darbhanga Expressway. Naveen says that the Ramayana Circuit Path should be completed in one to one and a half years. will go. While talking to the journalists, he said that a proposal has been made to include the Nawada to Ladania (Madhubani) road in the Bharatmala project. Besides, a proposal to four-lane the Indo-Nepal road has also been submitted to the Centre. Consent has also been received from Nepal for this road. All these works will be done under Bharatmala Project only.
There is a news of Prabhat Khabar 2023 March in which there is talk of permission to get DPR for Patna-Purnia Greenfield Expressway. Bihar will have its first greenfield access controlled highway and now the ministry has decided the agency to prepare its DPR.
A news published in Hindustan Times in 2023 states that the DPR to connect Purvanchal Expressway to Bhagalpur in Bihar has been prepared, only approval is left. This news has also been given by Bihar Minister Nitin Naveen. Nitin Naveen has claimed that Girdhar Armane, Secretary of Road and Transport Ministry in Delhi, has given him this information.
As far as the 2 lane bridge found for Buxar is concerned, it is not yet clear whether it is the same bridge in Buxar whose one lane was inaugurated only last year or it is some other bridge. Generally, the bridges being built these days are being built with at least 6 lanes. It is not even understood why this bridge is being built with 2 lanes.
corridor of religious places
In the Union Budget, there has been talk of building corridors for the two most famous religious places of Bihar. This is a welcome step. Gaya situation was in great need of development in Vishnupada Temple and Bodhgaya. Certainly, tourist attraction will increase a lot if the corridor is built here. Like Ayodhya-Kashi and Mahakal, there can be a flood of religious tourism here too. Foreign tourists also come to Bodh Gaya in large numbers. But one more thing is worth noting that the budget of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Mahakal Corridor was never counted in the allocation from the Union Budget. In this way, these two corridors should also not have been counted in the special package of Bihar.
Nalanda work has been done, there is talk of developing tourism there
All the work of Nalanda University has been done. The people of Bihar can thank the BJP government for completing the work of this university. Because there has been a tradition in Indian politics that the works started by the opposition parties have never been completed by the governments of the other party. But during the tenure of PM Narendra Modi, many incomplete projects of the Congress government have been completed. There is also a Nalanda University in it. There has been talk of promoting tourism in Nalanda in the budget. What contribution the Central Government will make for this has not been made clear.
Kosi flood protection plan
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech has announced comprehensive financial assistance of Rs 11,500 crore to enhance flood control measures and irrigation projects in the states. Apart from one Kosi-Mechi inter-state link, these projects include 20 other ongoing schemes. It has been announced to conduct survey and investigation related to flood prevention and irrigation in Kosi river. If the matter remains only till the survey then understand that nothing is going to happen. Because there are many projects in the amount that has been allocated. Special package is needed to prevent Kosi floods. Anyway, the solution to stop Kosi floods lies only in linking the rivers. Which is still very far away.