PM Modi Bihar - West Bengal Live Updates: 'Demography being changed in border areas,' says PM Modi in Kolkata; slams Congress, TMC over 'infiltration' bid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Bihar and West Bengal today, unveiling and launching development projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore. His day began in Gaya, Bihar, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects valued at nearly Rs 13,000 crore. A major highlight was the inauguration of the Aunta-Simaria six-lane bridge across the Ganga. Constructed at a cost of Rs 1,870 crore, the 8.15 km bridge will significantly cut travel distances for heavy vehicles by more than 100 km, thereby improving connectivity between North and South Bihar and boosting trade and logistics.Another key project on the agenda was the Buxar Thermal Power Plant, built at a cost of Rs 6,880 crore, which will add 660 MW of power generation capacity. This project will enhance Bihar’s energy security and ensure more reliable power supply for industries and households. On the healthcare front, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Muzaffarpur, a state-of-the-art facility that will provide affordable cancer treatment to patients in Bihar and neighbouring states.Boosting rail connectivity, the Prime Minister flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, offering modern facilities, and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma, which will promote religious tourism across Buddhist heritage sites.In the second leg of his tour, the prime minister travelled to Kolkata, where he inaugurated newly constructed metro routes, including the Noapara-Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro line to improve airport access. He will also launch the Sealdah-Esplanade and Beleghata-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay metro routes, reducing travel times and easing congestion in one of India’s busiest cities.Further strengthening road infrastructure in West Bengal, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the 7.2 km six-lane Kona Expressway, an elevated corridor costing over Rs 1,200 crore. Once completed, the expressway will save hours of travel time, improve connectivity with Kolkata’s industrial and port hubs, and stimulate trade and tourism in the region.