Siwan, June 20 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, inaugurated 28 development projects valued at over Rs 5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan district. He unveiled the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, completed at a cost exceeding Rs 400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this line. In a significant enhancement for connectivity in north Bihar, he also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Patliputra (Patna) to Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Further endorsing the 'Make in India – Make for the World' campaign, Modi dispatched a state-of-the-art locomotive, manufactured at the Marhowra plant, for export to the Republic of Guinea. This locomotive features high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based controls, ergonomic cab designs, and regenerative braking. In line with his commitment to the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the PM inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, with a total worth exceeding Rs 1,800 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for additional water supply, sanitation, and STP projects across Bihar, amounting to Rs 3,000 crore. Further emphasizing the energy sector, the PM laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across 15 grid substations in the state, including locations in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. Each substation is set to accommodate batteries with capacities ranging from 20–80 MWh, aimed at assisting discoms in reducing peak-hour electricity costs and enhancing supply reliability. These units allow the distribution companies to save money by feeding stored electricity back to the grid, thus benefiting consumers, according to an official statement. Moreover, Modi disbursed the first installment to over 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) scheme and celebrated the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by presenting keys to select beneficiaries. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, took to social media platform X, posting, "Today the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for Modi ji, from energy to railways, from housing to export... he (the PM) is bringing many gifts for the people of the state during his 51st visit to Bihar today". Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers, and several officials were present at the event.
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