Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday made a host of Bihar-specific announcements in the Union Budget, which include developing sports infrastructure in the state. The announcements, said Ms Sitharaman, are in line to make to make the region an engine to attain ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). This was welcomed by Bihar Cricket Association President Rakesh Tiwari, who called it “a historic moment for the entire sports community of our state”. Mr Tiwari also thanked the Finance Minister for the significant investment.

Also Read | Full Text Of Nirmala Sitharaman’s Speech

“The development of new sports facilities is not only a matter of pride but also a crucial step towards nurturing the immense talent in Bihar. The advanced infrastructure will provide our athletes with the necessary resources for training, competition and excelling at national and international levels. This initiative will undoubtedly foster a vibrant sports culture in our state,” Mr Tiwari said in a statement.

The cricketing body chief said this will help Bihar cricket reach new heights.

“The establishment of advanced medical facilities will ensure that our athletes receive top-notch healthcare and support, allowing them to perform their best without worrying about injuries or health issues. The inclusion of sports medicine will play a key role in enhancing the overall performance and health of our players,” Mr Tiwari added.

Other announcements for Bihar include human resource development, infrastructure and the generation of economic opportunities to make the eastern region of the country covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh an engine to attain ‘Viksit Bharat’.

“On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. We will also support the construction of road connectivity projects namely Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of Rs 26,000 crore,” Mr Sitharaman said in her speech.

A month after N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU helped the BJP cobble up a majority to return to power for the third time, the Modi 3.0’s Budget 2024 has earmarked key projects for the two states ruled by its friends in need — Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

Close on the heels of the Centre ruling out any plan to grant Bihar a Special Category Status, a longstanding demand of the JDU, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced multiple development projects for the state.

With an aim to boost road connectivity in Bihar, the government has announced plans to develop expressways connecting Patna and Purnea, and Buxar and Bhagalpur and another connecting Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbanga. The government has earmarked a sum of Rs 2,600 crore for this purpose. Additionally, the state will also get a two-lane bridge over Ganga in Buxar district. The Finance Minister also announced a 2,400 MW power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur.

The request of the Bihar government for banks to expedite funds for development shall be fulfilled, Ms Sitharaman said. The Centre also outlined plans to develop temple corridors at Gaya and Rajgir in Bihar to promote tourism. It also promised flood control structure with a financial support of Rs.11,500 crore to protect the state from floods.

Bihar is also part of the Purvodaya initiative announced by Modi 3.0 to step up development in the eastern part of the country. “We will formulate Purvodaya for all-round development of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh,” the Finance Minister said, saying that this project will focus on human resources development, infrastructure push and generation of economic opportunities in these states. The aim, she said, was to make this region an engine for attaining the goal of Viksit Bharat.

In Andhra Pradesh, where the NDA swept the recently held Assembly polls, infrastructure projects in Railways and roadways will be prioritised, the minister announced.

“Recognising Andhra Pradesh’s need for capital, to facilitate support through multilateral development agencies, Rs 15,000 crore to be arranged for Andhra Pradesh for development of capital,” she said.

The Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act and redressal of the concerns under it shall be expedited, the Finance Minister said.

The outlay for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in Budget 2024 is under the spotlight against the backdrop of the critical support TDP and JDU provided to the BJP to return to power after it fell short of majority in the Lok Sabha polls this year. 

JDU had drawn fire from main Opposition in Bihar, RJD, after the Finance Ministry said no case for a special category tag for Bihar is made out. Taking a swipe, the RJD had said, “Nitish Kumar and JDU leaders must enjoy the fruits of power at the Centre and continue their drama politics on special status.” JDU had earlier said that if the Centre cannot give a special status to Bihar, they expect a special package. 

A special status ensures more central support to a backward state to expedite its growth. While the Constitution does not provide for a special status for any state, it was introduced on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969. Among the states that have received a special status so far are Jammu and Kashmir (now a Union Territory), Noreastern states and hill states such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav sought to compare Union Budget 2023 with previous Budgets. 
| Photo Credit: PTI

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said the Centre has cheated Bihar in the Union Budget 2023-24 and fooled the people of the State.

“Bihar is a backward State. The Prime Minister and the Centre had made commitments to grant Bihar a special package and status several times before but nothing has been done so far. They have only fooled the people of Bihar and cheated us,” Mr. Yadav said while speaking to mediapersons in Patna.

He also sought to compare Wednesday’s Budget with previous Budgets. “There are lots of differences between previous Budgets and this Budget. People should know about the revenue and expenditure and they should be told from where the money is coming and where it is going… but they are not”, said Mr. Yadav.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is currently undertaking a ‘Samadhan Yatra’ (solution journey) across the State, said he couldn’t listen to the Budget speech as the yatra was pre-scheduled. “Once I wrap up today’s yatra, I will get to know the details,” Mr. Kumar told mediapersons in Supaul.

However, Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who was alongside Mr. Kumar, said the State’s demands were not met in the Budget. “The people of Bihar had a lot of expectations from the Budget but the Centre has again cheated the State,” said Mr. Choudhary.

The Congress also echoed similar views. Senior State Congress leader Ajit Sharma said, “Bihar has got nothing in the Budget and the people of Bihar have been cheated once again,” said.

Opposition BJP leaders termed the Budget “pro-people”. “It’s a balanced and pro-people Budget which will benefit all sections of people in the country,” said Vijay Kumar Sinha, BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly.