Prime Minister Narendra Modi will provide a major drive to connectivity in Bihar and West Bengal on Friday by inaugurating two iconic infrastructure projects the NH-31 Aunta–Simaria bridge and several metro lines in Kolkata.
Aunta–Simaria bridge project
In Bihar, tomorrow’s main highlight is Aunta–Simaria bridge project on NH-31, measuring 8.15 km in length, and featuring a 1.86 km six-lane bridge spanning the Ganga. Constructed at a cost exceeding ₹1,870 crore, the bridge will offer direct connectivity between Patna district’s Mokama and Begusarai, revolutionizing travel for lakhs of individuals from North and South Bihar.
Commuters and heavy vehicles had relied on the aged two-lane rail-cum-road “Rajendra Setu” for decades, which has deteriorated. Heavy vehicles frequently took a circuit of over 100 km, increasing travel time, congestion, and economic burden.
The proposed bridge should help end this issue and mean a shorter, safer, smoother span over the Ganga.
Tomorrow, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate important metro railway projects in Kolkata.
A 13.61 km long newly constructed metro network will be inaugurated and metro services will be launched on these routes. PM will flag off the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro service from… pic.twitter.com/CWBawNH6sb
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025
Enhancing the trade and development
Local people say the project will change the way trade and development happen in the area. “This bridge helps us cut travel time by hours. For farmers and drivers of trucks and for families, this is our lifeline,” said truck driver Ramesh Kumar, who regularly hauls goods back and forth between North Bihar and South Bihar. You might not be aware, but the drivers of these vehicles will drive extremely long hours especially the ones dealing with trade.
It will benefit industries and farmers especially in districts like Begusarai, Supaul, Purnea, Araria, and Madhubani that rely on South Bihar and Jharkhand for raw material, according to experts.
Metro rail corridors in Kolkata
PM Modi will inaugurate three new metro rail corridors on the same day, marking a new era of urban transportation for the city. The newly constructed 13.61 km long network will feature the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro service, enhancing connectivity to Kolkata airport, the Sealdah–Esplanade route, reducing travel time between the two locations from 40 minutes to a mere 11 minutes, and the Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay metro corridor, intended to raise connectivity with the city’s IT park.
The PM will also open a recently developed subway at the Howrah Metro Station. The metro expansion will link some of Kolkata’s most populated localities, will help lakhs of daily commuters, and consolidate multimodal transport in the city, claim officials.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
