PM Modi to visit Bihar, Odisha, Andhra during 2-day tour

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a three-state visit for two days from Friday, a tour that will include the launch of multiple development projects in Bihar and Odisha and his participating in a mass yoga programme on the International Day of Yoga.

Modi will be in Siwan in Bihar and Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Friday and will also address public meetings, an official statement said.

With the maiden Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha completing one year, the prime minister will chair a state-level function to mark the anniversary.

In Siwan, he will inaugurate the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth more than Rs 400 crore and flag off a new train service on the route, the statement said.

In a major boost to connectivity in north Bihar, Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, it added.

In line with his "Make in India, Make for the World" vision, Modi will flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. This is the first export locomotive manufactured in this factory.

"They are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion system, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomic cab designs and incorporate technologies like regenerative braking," the statement said.

In line with the goal of the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river, the prime minister will inaugurate six sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project worth more than Rs 1,800 crore.

The statement said he will launch several other projects related to water supply and power infrastructure, and release the first instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to more than 53,600 beneficiaries.

Modi will also hand over keys to a few beneficiaries to mark the "Grih Pravesh" ceremony of more than 6,600 completed houses.

In Odisha, he will launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore.

The projects will cover critical sectors, including drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways and a new railway line.

Marking a historic moment for Boudh's integration with the national railway network, the prime minister will flag off new train services extending rail connectivity to the district for the first time.

He will flag off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system, supporting a modern, eco-friendly urban-mobility network.

Modi will also release the Odisha Vision Document, anchored around the landmark years of 2036, when Odisha completes 100 years as India's first linguistic state, and 2047, when the country celebrates 100 years of independence.

He will be part of several other initiatives, including felicitating women achievers from the state.

On the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga, the prime minister will lead the national celebrations from Visakhapatnam.

He will participate in the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session at the beachfront of Visakhapatnam, alongside nearly five lakh participants, while leading the nation in a harmonious yoga demonstration, the statement said.

Yoga events will be held simultaneously at more than 3.5 lakh locations across the country.

This year, special contests, such as yoga with family and youth-focussed initiatives under Yoga Unplugged, have been launched on platforms like MyGov and MyBharat, encouraging mass participation.

The theme for this year -- "Yoga for One Earth, One Health" -- highlights the interconnectedness of human and planetary health and echoes the global vision of collective wellness, rooted in India's philosophy of "Sarve Santu Niramaya" (may everyone be free from diseases).

Since its inception in 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India's proposal to observe June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, Modi has led the celebrations from various locations, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York (the UN headquarters) and Srinagar.