Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a substantial financial aid package for Andhra Pradesh alongside major infrastructure initiatives for Bihar during her Budget 2024 presentation in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing the commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, Sitharaman emphasised the government's efforts to fulfill these obligations. She highlighted the crucial need for capital in the state and pledged special financial assistance through multilateral agencies. For the fiscal year, Rs 15,000 crore will be allocated, with additional funding earmarked for subsequent years.

Turning to Bihar, Sitharaman announced the establishment of an industrial node in Gaya as part of the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor. This initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth in the eastern region. Additionally, she outlined significant investments in road infrastructure, including the Patna-Purnea expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur highway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga connectivity, and a new two-lane bridge over the Ganga in Buxar, totaling Rs 26,000 crore.

Acknowledging the demands of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, voiced notably by Nitish Kumar's JDU and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, Sitharaman also announced Rs 11,500 crore for flood control measures in Bihar to mitigate the impact of flooding.