Bhagalpur: Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, arrived in Bhagalpur on Tuesday for the fourth leg of his “Samriddhi Yatra”, unveiling development projects worth Rs 441.32 crore and reiterating his government’s pledge to transform rural areas into urban-like hubs by 2026.
At a public event in Baijani panchayat in Jagdishpur block, Kumar inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 144 projects with a remote-controlled ceremony. The initiatives span sectors including rural development, infrastructure, education, water resources and welfare.
The visit combined symbolic gestures with administrative oversight. Along the route from the airport to Baijani, Kumar reviewed ongoing works before holding on-site inspections of key facilities such as a model anganwadi centre, an Ayushman Arogya Mandir and a newly constructed panchayat government building.
Baijani emerged as the focal point of the visit, with 88 projects inaugurated at a cost of Rs 170.61 crore and 56 new schemes launched with an outlay of Rs 270.70 crore. Officials were instructed to maintain strict quality standards, particularly under flagship programmes such as Saat Nischay.
Earlier in the day, Kumar inspected a railway overbridge under construction on the Bhagalpur–Bounsi line and convened a high-level review meeting with senior officials, including the chief secretary and the director general of police. He directed authorities to accelerate work on the project.
The development package includes completed initiatives such as a 100-bed girls’ hostel at TNB College and the first phase of a regional water supply scheme. New projects announced during the visit prioritise infrastructure expansion, power transmission and welfare measures targeting marginalised communities.
After concluding engagements in Bhagalpur, the chief minister departed for Katoria in neighbouring Banka district, continuing the multi-phase outreach programme aimed at showcasing governance and development efforts across the state.
