Not ‘special status’, but the Union Budget of Nirmala Sitharaman has given ‘special help’ to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh that the key NDA partners — TDP and JDU — had wished for. The announcement covers human resource development, infrastructure and the generation of economic opportunities to make the eastern region of the country covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh an engine to attain Viksit Bharat.
Budget has Fulfilled the ‘Coalition Dharma’
Ringing in the genuine period of ‘coalition politics’, the to begin with budget of Narendra Modi 3.0 government went the additional mile for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, with Nirmala Sitharaman posting out a whirlwind of money related offer assistance and ventures for both states. With 16 and 12 MPs separately, the TDP and JDU are key to the steadiness of the NDA government at the Centre.
Rs 15000 Cr for Amaravathi Capital
Andhra Pradesh also benefited from the Union Budget 2024-25 as the Finance Minister announced special financial support to the state, recognising the state's need for capital. "Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act- Our govt has made efforts to fulfil the commitments in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Recognising the state's need for capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multilateral agencies," Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The fund serve reported that Rs 15,000 crore will be organized in the current monetary year for improvement of Andhra Pradesh, with extra sums guaranteed for future a long time. The back serve said concerted endeavours will be made to fulfil commitments made beneath the AP Rearrangement Act. Awards for in reverse districts of Andhra Pradesh have too been guaranteed, along with a extraordinary say of the Polavaram Dam venture.
Rs 26000 Cr bonanza for JDU-ruled Bihar
Nirmala Sitharaman declared setting up unused air terminals, restorative colleges and sports framework in Bihar and indicated that demands of the Bihar government from multilateral banks will be assisted. She moreover said that Rs 26,000 crore will be distributed for thruways in Bihar, like Patna-Purnia, Buxar-Bhagalpur and Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga Expressway and an extra two-lane bridge over waterway Ganga in Buxar. A 2,400 MW control plant was moreover declared for Bihar, whereas a mechanical passage hub has been guaranteed in Gaya.
‘Purvodaya’ formula for all eastern regions
Bihar is also part of the Purvodaya initiative announced by Modi 3.0 to step up development in the eastern part of the country. “We will formulate Purvodaya for all-round development of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh,” the Finance Minister said, saying that this project will focus on human resources development, infrastructure push and generation of economic opportunities in these states. The aim, she said, was to make this region an engine for attaining the goal of Viksit Bharat.
Janadal Uniter leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supreme Chandrababu Naidu had unequivocally squeezed for ‘special help’ for their states whereas assembly Union priests some time recently the budget. Union Cabinet minister and TDP leader Ram Mohan Naidu was seen cheering and appearing a thumbs-up as declarations for Andhra Pradesh were made by the Finance minister in the Lok Sabha in her Budget speech.