Bihar’s Importance in Indian Politics
Bihar holds a powerful place in Indian politics with 40 Lok Sabha seats, making it a key player in deciding who becomes the Prime Minister. In the 2014 and 2019 general elections, Bihar supported Narendra Modi’s government with high voter turnout for the BJP and its allies, driven by hopes for development, jobs, and better infrastructure.
In return, Prime Minister Modi announced a special package of ₹1.25 lakh crore in 2015, promising new roads, railways, airports, power plants, and more. Now, a decade later, the big question remains: Has Bihar truly received the development it was promised?
The 2015 Special Package: Big Plans, Slow Progress
In August 2015, PM Modi announced the ₹1.25 lakh crore package in Arrah. Major components included:
Roads and Highways: ₹54,713 crore
- Railway Projects: ₹8,870 crore
- Electricity and Power: ₹21,476 crore
- Airports and Civil Aviation: ₹2,413 crore
- Skill Development & Education: ₹1,000 crore
- Petroleum and Gas Pipelines: ₹21,476 crore
While the announcement created excitement, many of these projects are still either delayed or at the planning stage.
What Has Been Completed?
✅ Roads and Highways
- 44 out of 74 road projects completed
- Around 1,300 km of roads built
- 22 projects ongoing, expected by 2027–28
✅ Railways
- 5 out of 9 projects completed
- 652 km of new or double tracks added
✅ Housing and Rural Development
- Over 57 lakh pucca houses built under PM Awas Yojana
- 1.5 crore+ households received tap water under Jal Jeevan Mission
- 55,000 km of rural roads constructed
✅ Patna Airport
- Expansion underway with a new terminal under construction
- These achievements are notable, but they fall short compared to the original vision.
What Is Still Delayed or Not Started?
❌ Raxaul–Haldia Expressway
- Announced years ago, still no DPR or land acquisition
❌ Bihta Airport
- Announced in 2016, yet no foundation stone laid
❌ Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur Bridge
- Under construction since 2015, only partially operational
❌ Metro Projects
- Patna Metro, first proposed in 2018, is progressing slowly
- Completion expected by 2028
New Announcements in 2024–25: Real or Recycled?
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the government announced another round of infrastructure projects worth over ₹1.2 lakh crore, including:
- ₹48,520 crore for highways, bridges, and power
- ₹33,000 crore for Patna Metro, AIIMS Darbhanga, and gas pipelines
- ₹13,480 crore for rail stations in Madhubani
- ₹12,000 crore for roads and health in Darbhanga
But many of these are reannouncements of older, pending projects like Bihta airport, raising questions about sincerity.
The Gujarat–Rajasthan Comparison
Recently, the Centre fast-tracked ₹36,000 crore worth of projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan using the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) to remove delays. These included solar power grids and telecom infrastructure.
Why not Bihar?
Despite contributing 40 MPs, Bihar’s long-pending projects haven't received similar urgency. The disparity raises concerns about political bias in development priorities.
Political Support, but Delayed Returns
Bihar has backed Narendra Modi in three Lok Sabha elections, consistently voting for the BJP and its allies. But the return on this political investment has been underwhelming. While rural schemes have made some progress, big-ticket infrastructure like expressways, airports, and power plants remain stuck. Many feels Bihar is being treated as a vote bank, not as a development priority.
Insightful Take: Bihar Deserves Better
The last 10 years show a mixed story for Bihar. Rural connectivity and housing have improved, but flagship projects have faced delay after delay. It's time for the Centre and the state to move beyond photo-ops and foundation stones. Bihar needs real delivery, real urgency, and real respect.
If Bihar can help elect a Prime Minister, it surely deserves more than promises that fade after every election.
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