Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh from June 20 to 21, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a slew of infrastructure and welfare projects, and lead the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Visakhapatnam.
PM Modi’s first stop will be Siwan in Bihar on June 20, where he will unveil and launch a series of development projects aimed at boosting infrastructure, rail connectivity, clean energy, and urban amenities in the state.
Among the key highlights:
- Rail Boost: Inauguration of the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line worth over ₹400 crore, and the launch of a new train service on the route.
- New Vande Bharat Express: Flagging off of the Patliputra-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.
- Make in India for the World: The first export locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra Plant will be flagged off for the Republic of Guinea. These state-of-the-art locomotives come with advanced propulsion, ergonomic design, and regenerative braking systems.
- Namami Gange: Inauguration of six new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange mission, valued at ₹1,800 crore.
- Urban Infrastructure: Laying of the foundation stone for ₹3,000 crore worth of water supply and sanitation projects across Bihar towns.
- Power Infrastructure: Launch of a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System across 15 grid substations to help stabilize electricity supply and reduce costs.
- Housing Milestone: Disbursement of the first instalment to over 53,600 beneficiaries under the PMAY Urban scheme and the symbolic Grih Pravesh for 6,600 new homeowners.
Later that day, the Prime Minister will visit Bhubaneswar to chair a special function commemorating the completion of one year of the current Odisha government.
Key announcements and events include:
- ₹18,600 crore projects: Inauguration and foundation stone laying for projects in irrigation, drinking water, health, rural roads, bridges, and national highways.
- Rail Connectivity to Boudh: First-time rail service will be flagged off connecting Boudh district to the national railway network.
- Green Urban Mobility: Launch of 100 electric buses under Bhubaneswar’s CRUT system, encouraging sustainable transport.
- Vision 2047 & 2036: Unveiling of the “Odisha Vision Document,” a blueprint aligned with India’s 100th year of independence and Odisha’s centenary as a linguistic state.
- Cultural Heritage: Launch of the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’ to transform birthplaces of iconic Odia personalities into heritage villages with museums and public spaces.
- Women Empowerment: Felicitation of women achievers from among the 16.5 lakh “Lakhpati Didis” — women who have achieved financial independence.
On June 21, PM Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga from the scenic beachfront of Visakhapatnam.
The celebration will include:
- Mass Yoga Demonstration: Over 5 lakh participants expected to join the PM in a collective yoga session at sunrise.
- Nationwide Participation: Yoga Sangam events to be held at over 3.5 lakh locations across India.
- Engaging Campaigns: Initiatives like Yoga with Family and Yoga Unplugged have been launched on platforms like MyGov and MyBharat to drive participation among youth and families.
- Theme of the Year: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” emphasizing the intrinsic link between individual wellness and the health of the planet.
Since the UN’s adoption of June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2015, PM Modi has led the annual celebrations from cities across India and the world, including the UN Headquarters in New York in 2023.
