Gaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth ₹12,000 crore in Gaya, Bihar.
Addressing the gathering, he saluted Gaya ji, calling it the sacred city of knowledge and liberation. He recalled its deep spiritual legacy, noting that it is the land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Modi said Gaya’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage has always been a source of inspiration.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the local sentiment that the city should be addressed with respect as “Gaya ji” and congratulated the Bihar Government for embracing this wish. He expressed happiness that both the Centre and the state are working together to ensure the city’s rapid progress.
He highlighted that today’s projects, spanning energy, healthcare and urban development, will strengthen Bihar’s industrial capacity and create new jobs. He announced the inauguration of a hospital and research centre, which will enhance healthcare facilities, including additional support for cancer treatment in the state.
Reiterating his commitment to the poor, Modi said providing pucca houses remains his major priority. Over the past 11 years, more than 4 crore homes have been built nationwide, including 38 lakh in Bihar and over 2 lakh in Gaya district. He emphasised that these are not just houses but symbols of dignity, as they are equipped with electricity, water, toilets and gas connections.
Continuing this effort, more than 16,000 families in Bihar’s Magadh region have recently received pucca houses. Modi said festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja would be even more joyous in these homes. He assured that every poor family in the state would eventually benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Speaking on Bihar’s historic role in nation-building, Modi said the state has always stood as a shield for the country. Referring to terrorism, he asserted that India has fulfilled its resolve to eliminate the threat and cited “Operation Sindoor” as a new milestone in the nation’s defence strategy.
On development, the Prime Minister contrasted present progress with the “lantern regime”, when Maoist terror and poor infrastructure left the state in darkness. He said that period saw no jobs or education, forcing migration of generations. Today, he said, major projects are underway, including Bihar’s largest industrial area in Dobhi, a new technology centre in Gaya, and several power plants at Buxar, Nabinagar and Pirpainti. These, he noted, will improve energy supply and generate employment.
Modi praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s transparent recruitment drive for teachers and highlighted the Centre’s new Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana. Under this, young people entering private sector jobs will receive ₹15,000 directly, while companies employing them will get financial support.
He strongly criticised opposition parties for delaying projects and treating public money as personal wealth. Citing the Aunta–Simaria bridge as an example, he said unlike in the past, projects under his government are completed swiftly. The new bridge will directly connect North and South Bihar, reducing detours and boosting trade.
On railways, Modi said Gaya ji station is being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to provide airport-like facilities. The city is now connected to Delhi via Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains, opening opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs.
Addressing corruption, the Prime Minister announced that a stringent anti-corruption law is being introduced, covering even the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers. If leaders are jailed and fail to secure bail within 30 days, they must vacate their posts. He said this reflects the government’s resolve to free India from corruption.
Turning to security, he raised concerns over rising infiltration, particularly in Bihar’s border districts. Announcing the launch of a Demography Mission, he said infiltrators will be expelled and warned citizens to stay alert against parties supporting them for vote-bank politics.
Modi concluded by stressing that the aspirations of Bihar’s youth must be given wings and affirmed that both Centre and State governments are working shoulder to shoulder to accelerate development in the state.
The event was attended by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Jitan Ram Manji, Giriraj Singh, Chirag Paswan, Nityanand Rai, Ram Nath Thakur and other dignitaries.
Background Projects
The Prime Minister inaugurated the ₹1,870 crore Aunta–Simaria bridge on NH-31, including a 1.86 km six-lane bridge over the Ganga, reducing travel distance for heavy vehicles by more than 100 km. He also opened the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section worth ₹1,900 crore and improvements to NH-120.
He inaugurated the ₹6,880 crore Buxar Thermal Power Plant, enhancing the state’s power supply. In healthcare, he launched the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Muzaffarpur, equipped with modern treatment facilities.
Urban infrastructure worth ₹1,260 crore was also launched, including sewerage projects in Munger, Daudnagar, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai and Jamui, and water supply projects under AMRUT 2.0 in Aurangabad, Bodhgaya and Jehanabad.
Two new trains were flagged off: the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma.
A Grih Pravesh ceremony was also held for 12,000 rural beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin and 4,260 urban beneficiaries under PMAY-Urban, symbolically handing over keys to new homeowners.