Ahmedabad/New Delhi, Nov 7: The 2,400 MW Bhagalpur Power Project, being developed by the Adani Group with an outlay of Rs 30,000 crore, marks a turning point in Bihar’s economic story — bridging its energy gap, reviving industry, and creating opportunities for its 13.5 crore citizens.

For the first time in decades, the state is witnessing a wave of serious private investment.

The plain fact is that for over half a century, Bihar has remained on the margins of India’s industrial story. Despite its demographic strength and strategic location, the state has struggled to attract private investment or build a sustainable industrial base.

The data tell a sobering truth: Bihar’s per capita GDP stands at barely $776, while its per capita power consumption — 317 kilowatt hours (kWh) — is the lowest among major Indian states.

In contrast, Gujarat consumes over 1,980 kWh per capita and has a GDP per capita of $3,917.

This is not a mere coincidence. Power and prosperity move together. Where there is reliable electricity, industries grow, jobs are created, and incomes rise.

Where there isn’t, human potential migrates — literally. Bihar today supplies nearly 34 million workers to other states; its youth are forced to seek livelihoods elsewhere because industry within the state has no power to thrive.

It is against this backdrop that the Bhagalpur (Pirpainti) Power Project, being developed by the Adani Group with an investment commitment of Rs 30,000 crore, takes on historic significance. It is not just a project — it is Bihar’s opportunity to plug into India’s growth grid and finally claim its share of industrial progress.

Bihar has seen little private industrial activity in half a century. In the past five years alone, it has recorded virtually no new large-scale projects. The state’s dependence on agriculture remains high — nearly 50 per cent of its working population is engaged in farming, forestry, or fishing, while only 5.7 per cent are employed in manufacturing.

The 2,400 MW Bhagalpur Power Project, originally conceived by the Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd (BSPGCL) in 2012, was revived by the government in 2024 through a transparent e-bidding process after earlier attempts failed.

Four credible bidders — Adani Power, Torrent Power, Lalitpur Power Generation, and JSW Energy — participated. Adani Power emerged as the lowest bidder at Rs 6.075 per kWh, a tariff lower than comparable bids in Madhya Pradesh (Rs 6.22–Rs 6.30 per kWh).

Notably, no land transfer was involved. The land, acquired over a decade ago for the project, remains fully owned by the Bihar government, leased at a nominal rent under the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2025. After the project term, it reverts automatically to the state.

In an era where investor confidence depends on transparency and governance, the Bhagalpur model stands out as a template for responsible investment — balancing public ownership with private efficiency.

Bihar’s electricity demand has grown sharply in recent years, but supply has not kept pace. The state’s installed generation capacity of about 6,000 MW lags behind its peak demand of 8,908 MW (FY25), forcing it to import power from the national grid.

According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the demand is projected to almost double to 17,097 MW by FY35. Without new generation projects, the state risks widening its energy deficit — limiting industrial expansion, weakening job creation, and constraining overall growth.

The Bhagalpur project can help fill this critical gap. By adding 2,400 MW to Bihar’s grid, it will supply nearly one-fourth of the state’s projected additional power needs over the next decade, according to people close to the development.

Moreover, infrastructure investments of this magnitude generate vast employment. As housing and infrastructure expert V. Suresh notes, every Rs 1 crore invested in infrastructure creates 200–250 man-years of employment across 70 trades.

By that metric, the Bhagalpur project alone could create millions of man-days of work — offering Bihar’s unskilled and semi-skilled workers local opportunities in construction, logistics, operations, and allied services.

According to people in the know, a reliable power supply will also open the door to downstream industries, expansion of manufacturing zones, and the development of logistics and transport corridors—unlocking Bihar’s potential in food processing, textiles, engineering, and MSMEs.

Bihar’s challenge has never been its people — it has been its power. The Bhagalpur project signals a crucial shift in the state’s development trajectory: from subsidy-driven survival to investment-led growth. It embodies what Bihar needs most — confidence from credible investors, infrastructure that scales, and energy that empowers.

For too long, Bihar’s youth have left home to light up other states’ factories and cities. The Bhagalpur project could finally begin to reverse that flow — bringing power, purpose, and prosperity back to where they belong.

A major fire broke out at the Mangal Murthy Knit Dyeing Company located in Saravali MIDC, Bhiwandi, on Friday morning, sending thick black smoke billowing across the sky. The blaze, which began around 9:30 am, triggered panic among workers and nearby residents as flames quickly engulfed the sprawling textile unit.

According to reports, the fire spread rapidly due to large quantities of cloth and chemicals stored inside the factory. Local residents and workers immediately alerted the fire brigade after noticing the flames and heavy smoke columns visible from several kilometres away.

Bhiwandi Fire Brigade personnel reached the site around 10 am and immediately began firefighting operations. As the fire intensified, additional support was summoned from Kalyan, Ambernath, and Thane municipal fire departments.

Over ten fire engines were deployed to control the blaze, with firefighters battling dense smoke and soaring flames for hours. Officials said entry into the premises was proving difficult due to the intensity of the heat and presence of flammable chemicals. Emergency services remained on high alert as the operation continued well into the afternoon.

Preliminary reports indicate that no loss of life has occurred, bringing relief amid the large-scale devastation. However, the company has reportedly suffered extensive damage. Stocks of dyed fabric, chemicals, and costly textile machinery worth crores of rupees are feared to have been destroyed.

Police and fire officials have cordoned off the area, while vehicular movement in parts of Saravali Industrial Estate has been restricted to facilitate emergency operations.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire. Initial suspicion points towards a possible short circuit, but officials stated that the exact reason will be determined after a detailed investigation.

The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety compliance in industrial zones like Bhiwandi, which house hundreds of textile and dyeing units often packed with inflammable materials.

New Delhi, Nov 7: In a caustic retaliation to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s fresh allegations of “election chori”, the BJP said on Friday that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha was raising the issue for his own “political survival” and justifying the party’s repeated losses in polls.

Amit Malviya, in charge of the BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, said, “The first thing to understand is why Rahul Gandhi is suddenly talking about ‘vote chori’. This has nothing to do with the Election Commission — it’s about his political survival. Rahul Gandhi wants to convince his own party that he is not responsible for Congress’s repeated defeats.”

Malviya claimed that dissenting voices within the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s poor record in leading the party to victory were getting louder.

He also attacked a couplet in Urdu, which translates as: “Don’t talk about insignificant issues. Tell me why the caravan was looted. I have no complaint against the secrets; it’s about your leadership.”

Malviya hit out at the LoP in Lok Sabha about the timing of his fresh allegations against the electoral system.

“According to him, it’s not weak leadership or poor strategy — it’s always ‘vote chori’. He knows the day Congress realises he can’t win elections, they’ll start looking for someone who can. After all, no one follows a leader who only delivers defeats,” said Malviya on X.

“In 2014, Rahul blamed Congress’s weaknesses. After the next loss, he said Modi won using the ED, CBI, and Income Tax. Then came the EVM excuse. Now, he blames the Election Commission. The truth is, the hope Congress built after BJP’s 240 seats in the Lok Sabha has collapsed after defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana,” he said.

“If Bihar goes the same way, which it will, Rahul’s leadership will once again be questioned. That’s why he must keep repeating — he doesn’t lose, someone makes him lose. Sometimes it’s his party, sometimes the EVM, sometimes the Election Commission,” Malviya said, taking a dig at the Congress leader.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi told Media that the Election Commission and the BJP had “failed to respond” to the serious charges he had presented at a press conference recently.

“I demonstrated in my presentation that the Haryana elections were not elections in the true sense. There was wholesale theft of votes,” he said.

“Please note — there has been no response to my allegations of fake votes, fake voter photographs and impersonation. The BJP is defending the Election Commission, but none of my claims have been denied,” he said.