Nirmala Sitharaman loosens purse strings for Andhra, Bihar

New Delhi, July 23 Presenting Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman loosened the purse strings for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar where two of the regional parties in power are crucial coalition partners in the Modi 3.0 government.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Andhra Pradesh and Janata Dal (United) from Bihar are key allies supporting the National Democratic Alliance headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The TDP and the JD (U) have 16 and 12 members respectively in the newly-elected Lok Sabha.

Sitharaman announced a special financial package of Rs 15,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh and said that concerted efforts would be made to fulfill the commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The Finance Minister said that the special financial package will be arranged in the current financial year to develop the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

In the case of Bihar, Sitharaman announced that the Centre will support development on an industrial node at Gaya on Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor. The road connectivity projects worth Rs 26,000 crore would also be taken up in the state. The road projects include Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur expressway and additional 2-lane bridge over the river Ganga at Buxar.

She also promised funds to improve flood mitigation measures in Bihar.