Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made headlines by announcing several major development projects for Bihar in the 2024 budget. This included new airports, medical colleges, highways, and a massive ₹26,000 crore allocation for infrastructure projects such as the Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Highway, and a new two-lane bridge over the Ganga in Buxar. The allocation also included plans for the development of the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya and the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya as world-class heritage sites, as well as an industrial node at Gaya as part of the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor. The budget also proposed a new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti costing Rs.21,400 crore and an additional Rs.11,500 crore for flood control measures.
The announcement sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many users expressing their amusement through memes. Some users poked fun at the seemingly disproportionate focus on Bihar compared to other states, while others expressed concerns about the quality of projects and potential corruption. The allocation also drew criticism from those who felt the budget did little for the middle class.
The budget announcement also introduced the ‘Poorvodaya’ initiative, aimed at boosting development in India’s eastern region, covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
While the budget promises significant development for Bihar, it remains to be seen how these projects will be implemented and what impact they will have on the state and its people. The social media reaction highlights the complex dynamics of development and the challenges of balancing regional priorities with national aspirations.
