Narendra Modi Bihar visit LIVE updates: PM praises CM Nitish Kumar's commitment towards the progress of the state

Narendra Modi Bihar visit LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the centenary celebrations of the Patna University and launch several development projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore on Saturday morning. This will be his first full-fledged tour of the state since joining the hands with Nitish Kumar-led JDU. In August, Modi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had made an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts of Bihar. After attending the Patna University function, the prime minister will fly by helicopter to Mokama, which is in Patna district about 100 km from the capital city. Ahead of PM’s visit, the state BJP chief had hinted that a bonanza was on the cards, terming the prime minister’s visit as a “Diwali gift” to the people of Bihar in general and Mokama in particular. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for four Rs 3031 crore national highways projects and as many sewage treatment plants (STPs) and related works worth Rs 738.04 crore. However, a minor controversy has erupted with actor-turned-politician and local BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha raising the issue of not being invited to the programme despite being a Patna University alumnus.

Here are Narendra Modi Bihar visit LIVE updates:

12:19 pm: Living in an era of globalisation, we need to understand the changing trends across the world and the increased spirit of competitiveness. In that context India has to make its place in the world: PM Narendra Modi

12:17 pm: From conventional teaching, our universities need to move towards innovative learning: PM Narendra Modi

12:13 pm: Watch this latest video from Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar:

12:12 pm: Bihar is blessed with both ‘Gyaan’ and ‘Ganga.’ This land has a legacy that is unique: PM Narendra Modi

12:11 pm: The commitment of Shri Nitish Kumar towards the progress of Bihar is commendable. We in the Centre attach topmost importance to the development of eastern India: PM Modi

12:04 pm: In his speech Narendra Modi further said,”In every state, the top levels of the civil services has people who have studied in Patna University. In Delhi, I interact with so many officials, many of whom belong to Bihar.”

12:02 pm: Narendra Modi said, ”I consider it my honour to visit Patna University and be among the students. I bow to this land of Bihar. This university has nurtured students who have contributed greatly to the nation.”

11:59 am: Narendra Modi has started addressing the crowd in the university.

11:56 am: Narendra Modi will be shortly addressing the students of the university.

11:53 am: According to NDTV, PM Modi will launch a special centenary souvenir today. The management is hopeful that PM’s visit will allow them to request for central university status for the Patna University.

11:49 am: Currently Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is addressing the students at the university.

11:44 am: Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi is currently addressing the atudents in the university. He said that Narendra Modi is the first ever Prime Minister in office to visit Patna.

11:42 am: Narendra Modi at the centenary celebrations of Patna University in Patna, Bihar.

11:39 am: Patna university is the seventh oldest university which completed its 100 years on October 1.

11:36 am: Along with PM Modi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan are also present on the dias.

11:33 am: Watch LIVE: PM Narendra Modi at centenary celebrations of Patna University in Patna, Bihar.

LIVE: PM Shri @narendramodi at centenary celebrations of Patna University in Patna, Bihar. https://t.co/svUNXJrdY4

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 14, 2017

11: 29 am: PM Narendra Modi has reached Science College Ground of Patna University. The centenary celebration has been kicked off. Ram Vilas Paswan, Shatrughan Sinha have been the alumni of this university. All the dignitaries present there are being welcomed.

11:25 am: Modi being welcomed by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar:

PM Narendra Modi arrives in Patna, received by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/D2HKVGkKD2

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2017

11:20 am: From the airport, PM Modi will be proceeding towards Science College Ground, Patna University for the centenary celebrations.

11:12 am: CM Nitish Kumar receives PM Modi with a rose.

11:09 am: CM Nitish Kumar reaches at the airport to receive PM.

11:05 am: PM Modi arrives in Bihar.

10:59 am: Here is the complete schedule of PM Narendra Modi who will be visiting Bihar today:

10:50 am: The four National Highway projects for which foundation stone will be laid include:

4-laning of Aunta–Simariya section of NH-31 and construction of 6-lane Ganga Setu
4 laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31
2-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH 107
2-lane construction of Biharsharif-Barbigha-Mokama section of NH-82

10:41 am: Security has been tightened prior to PM Narendra Modi’s visit. Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) said seven Superintendents of Police and 12 deputy SPs had been deployed to oversee the security arrangements and regulation of road traffic during nearly five-hour stay of the prime minister in the state.

10:37 am: Talking about his Bihar visit, Narendra Modi on Friday had tweeted saying, ” Tomorrow I will visit Bihar & address the Centenary Celebrations of Patna University.

Tomorrow I will visit Bihar & address the Centenary Celebrations of Patna University.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 13, 2017

10:33 am: The impoverished state has high hopes from the prime minister, who had announced a “package” of Rs 1.25 lakh crore in 2015.

10:30 am: The sewerage projects include development of STPs and related network at Beur and Saidpur. These will create a capacity of treating 120 million litres daily (MLD), according to the official statement.

10:27 am: Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who also holds the portfolio of water resources, will accompany the prime minister for the ceremony.

10:15 AM: The other projects were four laning of Bakhtiyapur-Mokama section of NH-31 spending Rs 837 crore, two-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH 107 at a cost of Rs 736 crore and two-lane construction of Bihar Sharif Barbigha-Mokama section of NH-82 at the cost of Rs 297 crore.

10:10 AM: The four highway projects for which the foundation stone will be laid, include the four-laning of Aunta-Simariya section of NH-31 and the construction of six-lane Ganga Setu at a cost of Rs 1,161 crore.