New Delhi, India

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2024 announced some major support schemes for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, whose incumbent chief ministers emerged as the biggest allies of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, ensuring that the NDA coalition remains above the majority mark. 

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Govt grants Rs 15,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh

FM Sitharaman said that Andhra Pradesh will be given Rs 15,000 crore (17,92,135.50 USD) for developing its capital.

In the pre-budget meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had asked for a grant of Rs 15,000 crore to carry out the construction and development of Amaravati as the state's only capital. 

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Sitharaman, while presenting the budget, said that the Centre understand the need for capital in Andhra Pradesh and will support its facilitation through multi-lateral development agencies. 

Also Read: Union Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman's budget already set a record. Here's how.

"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. In the current FY, Rs 15,000 crore will be arranged with additional amounts in future years," Sitharaman said. 

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After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, the states have shared Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Bihar gets road connectivity, industrial corridor

The finance minister announced an industrial corridor through the state of Bihar. "On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor, we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. It will catalyse the development of the eastern region. We will also support the development of road connectivity projects- Patna -Purnea expressway, Buxar- Bhagalpur highway, Bodhgaya- Rajgir-Vaishali- Darbhanga and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga in Buxar for Rs 26,000 crores," the finance minister said. 

Watch: Budget 2024: Indian rupee's fall in focus; dollar's rise weighs on global currencies 

"The union government will arrange financial assistance to Bihar through aid from multilateral development agencies," Sitharaman added.

So as to make Bihar a prominent global tourist place, FM Sitharaman announced the development of the Bodh Gaya Corridor.

A corridor, similar to the Kashi Viswanath Temple corridor, will be implemented in Bodh Gaya, Sitharaman said. “Special funds have also been provided for the Rajgir Jain Temple site”, she said. 

(With inputs from agencies)