Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, November 3, 2025, unveiled a comprehensive vision for the transformation of Bihar, promising a defence corridor, industrial development, flood management, and massive infrastructure expansion if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returns to power in the state. Speaking at election rallies in Sheohar and Sitamarhi, Shah laid out an ambitious agenda blending economic reforms, cultural revival, and strategic infrastructure, asserting that the upcoming state election would determine whether Bihar steps firmly toward progress or returns to “an era of corruption and neglect” under the RJD-Congress alliance.
Flood-Free Bihar: Tackling Centuries of Calamity
A major focus of Shah’s address was the recurring flood crisis that has plagued the state for generations. He promised that an NDA government would establish a special commission dedicated to making Bihar flood-free, describing it as one of the coalition’s most urgent priorities.
“From the time of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gandak, Koshi, and Ganga rivers have wreaked flood havoc in Bihar,” Shah said, emphasizing that a long-term, scientific approach was necessary to end the state’s cycle of destruction and rehabilitation.
He announced that the waters of the Koshi river—often referred to as the “Sorrow of Bihar”—would be harnessed to irrigate 50,000 hectares of farmland in the Mithilanchal region. This initiative, he explained, would transform agriculture in northern Bihar by ensuring reliable irrigation, boosting crop yields, and reducing migration caused by recurrent floods and droughts.
The proposed flood management plan would involve large-scale river channelization, modern embankment systems, and interlinking of tributaries. Shah claimed that once implemented, the program would not only protect Bihar’s farmlands but also attract agricultural industries and food processing units, creating thousands of jobs in rural areas.
Defence Corridor and Industrial Revolution in Bihar
A defining announcement of Shah’s campaign speech was the creation of a Defence Corridor in Bihar, which he said would position the state as a hub for defence production and industrial growth.
“We will establish a defence corridor in the state and set up factories in each district, in addition to building MSME and industrial parks,” he declared.
According to Shah, the corridor would encourage investment from major public and private sector companies, while also boosting local entrepreneurship. Bihar’s youth, he said, would benefit directly from job creation in manufacturing, engineering, and supply-chain sectors tied to India’s growing defence exports.
“In future military offensives against Pakistan, explosives manufactured in Bihar’s proposed defence corridor will be used,” he said, framing the initiative as both a symbol of national pride and economic progress.
To complement the corridor, Shah announced that every district of Bihar would have at least one factory, and several Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) would receive state-level assistance to modernize production. He also promised the revival of all closed sugar mills within two and a half years, citing the sugar industry’s importance to the state’s rural economy.
Connectivity and Infrastructure: Rail, Road, and Air Upgrades
Amit Shah emphasized that the NDA’s Bihar vision was not limited to industry but extended to a comprehensive connectivity overhaul that would link the state to national and global markets.
Among the major announcements was the launch of a Vande Bharat train between Sitamarhi and Ayodhya, which he said would commence operations on the consecration day of the Sita Temple—a project already under construction in Sitamarhi.
“We will launch the Vande Bharat train from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya on the consecration day of the Sita Temple,” Shah told the gathering, linking infrastructure to Bihar’s religious heritage.
He also promised the construction of the Sitamarhi–Ayodhya Ramjanaki Path, a dedicated pilgrimage route to enhance connectivity between the two sacred cities, at an estimated cost of ₹550 crore.
In addition, Shah announced plans for a ₹5,000 crore project to double the Ayodhya–Sitamarhi rail track, ensuring faster and more efficient train services in the Mithilanchal region.
The Mithilanchal region, he added, would be developed into a Global Knowledge Centre at a cost of ₹500 crore, transforming it into an education and innovation hub.
“This region, which has produced countless scholars and thinkers, will once again emerge as a centre of global learning and intellectual excellence,” he said.
The NDA, Shah promised, would also upgrade airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea, and Bhagalpur to international standards, enhancing Bihar’s connectivity and attracting tourism and investment.
“The NDA will transform Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea, and Bhagalpur airports into global-standard facilities. Each district of Bihar will also have a medical college,” Shah said, underscoring the coalition’s vision for balanced regional growth.
Religious and Cultural Projects: Sita Temple at Punaura Dham
Shah also sought to connect his development promises to Bihar’s deep religious and cultural heritage. During his visit to Sitamarhi, he performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the ₹850-crore Sita Temple at Punaura Dham, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita.
The temple, he said, would be a landmark not only for religious tourism but also for regional development. It would attract pilgrims from across India and abroad, creating new avenues for employment and cultural exchange.
“We are proud to begin the construction of the grand Sita Temple at Punaura Dham. On the day of its consecration, the Vande Bharat train from Sitamarhi to Ayodhya will be launched to honor Sita Mata’s journey,” he said.
The initiative, Shah explained, was part of the NDA’s larger effort to promote cultural identity while integrating it with infrastructure and tourism-led growth.
Sharp Political Attack: ‘RJD-Congress Era Was Full of Scams’
Throughout his speech, Shah maintained a combative tone toward the opposition, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, accusing them of corruption, misrule, and neglect.
“Our Prime Minister sanctioned ₹18.70 lakh crore to Bihar in 10 years compared to only ₹2.80 lakh crore during the RJD-Congress rule. Lalu Prasad’s tenure was full of scams; only the Nitish Kumar–Narendra Modi pair can ensure a developed Bihar,” Shah said.
He predicted a decisive NDA victory, declaring that the RJD-Congress alliance would be “wiped out by 1 pm on November 14,” when the election results are announced.
“The people of Bihar have seen both governments. One gave scams and neglect, while the other brought electricity, roads, and dignity. This time, the verdict will be for development,” he added.
National Security and Governance
In a strong nationalistic pitch, Shah contrasted the Modi government’s firm approach to terrorism with what he described as the Congress party’s appeasement policies.
“Earlier, biryani used to be served to militants on a platter. But the Narendra Modi-led government launched Operation Sindoor within 10 days of the Pahalgam attack and neutralized the terrorists in their own land,” he said.
He presented this as an example of the NDA’s decisive leadership and its willingness to protect the nation’s borders and dignity—values, he said, that also guided their approach to state governance.
The Broader Vision: Economic and Cultural Reawakening
Shah’s Bihar vision combined industrial progress, flood resilience, and cultural revival. By promising factories in every district, a flood-free Mithilanchal, a defence corridor, and upgraded medical and educational infrastructure, he sought to frame the NDA as the only coalition capable of delivering both prosperity and pride.
The plan’s focus on agriculture, manufacturing, and connectivity was complemented by symbolic gestures rooted in Bihar’s heritage—such as the Sita Temple and Ramjanaki Path—which linked development with devotion.
Conclusion
Amit Shah’s announcement in Bihar marks one of the most detailed and ambitious election manifestos presented by the NDA in recent years. It merges economic modernization with spiritual identity, aiming to appeal simultaneously to industrialists, farmers, youth, and devotees.
His speech in Sheohar and Sitamarhi portrayed a Bihar that could become both an industrial powerhouse and a cultural beacon, with its floods contained, its youth employed, and its infrastructure renewed.
Whether this ambitious blueprint translates into reality will depend on the NDA’s ability to turn promises into implementation—but Shah’s message was clear: under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, the NDA envisions nothing less than a rebirth of Bihar as a state of opportunity, stability, and pride.
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