Congress Leaders in Gaya Highlight Stalled Development Projects Ahead of CM Nitish Kumar's Samriddhi Yatra
Ahead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Samriddhi Yatra scheduled for March 20, local Congress functionaries in Gaya have raised serious concerns over a series of development projects that they claim have remained incomplete or stuck for years after their announcement or launch. The Congress leaders, including former MLA Md Khan Ali, party state spokesperson Vijay Kumar Mithu, and DCC vice-president Babulal Prasad, have pointed out multiple instances where projects have failed to progress, alleging negligence by the state government.
Wazirganj Steel Processing Plant: A Project in Limbo
At the forefront of the stalled projects is the proposed Wazirganj steel processing plant. According to the Congress leaders, in 2008, then Union steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan laid the foundation stone for this plant, with 20 acres of land acquired for the purpose. The project cost was estimated at Rs 200 crore during the bhoomipujan ceremony. However, the project has been in limbo for over a decade due to the revenue department's failure to permit a change in land use from agricultural to industrial purposes.
The leaders noted that Union MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had raised this issue in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2025 Assembly election campaign, but no progress has been made since. They contrasted this with a similar project in Bettiah, which became functional several years ago, and alleged that the state government led by Nitish Kumar is responsible for withholding the necessary permissions.
Bhusunda Stadium: An Unfulfilled Promise
Another major project flagged by the Congress workers is the proposed state-of-the-art stadium at Bhusunda village on the south-eastern outskirts of Gaya town. Announced in 2018, the stadium-cum-sports complex was planned on a 13.6-acre plot, but construction has not yet begun. The proposed stadium was designed to be 217 meters long and 174 meters wide, featuring facilities for football, high jump, javelin throw, hammer throw, shot put, and a running track. Additionally, a 230-meter-long parking area was planned outside the stadium. Eight years after the announcement, no work has started on the ground, according to the allegations.
Other Development Concerns
Beyond these two key projects, the Congress leaders also criticized the slow implementation of the piped gas scheme in Gaya. They claimed that timely execution could have helped the city avoid the current shortage of LPG cylinders, exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East war. Furthermore, they demanded the upgradation of Anugrah Narain Magadh Medical College and Hospital to the standards of AIIMS and the introduction of medical and engineering education courses at the Central University of South Bihar.
The Congress leaders' statements come as a prelude to CM Nitish Kumar's Samriddhi Yatra, aiming to draw attention to what they perceive as systemic failures in project execution and governance in the region. They urged the state government to expedite these projects to foster development and meet the long-standing demands of the local population.
