PATNA, Aug. 25 -- Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate next month the Purnea airport and lay the foundation stone of 2,400 MW Pirpainti power plant in Bhagalpur district at an estimated cost of Rs.36,000-crore. This could be the PM's last visit to the state before the announcement of crucial Bihar election by the Election Commission, which would bring into force the model code of conduct. He was speaking at the Start-Up Summit 2025, organised by Let's Inspire Bihar initiative to usher in an entrepreneurship revolution for employment generation within the state to make Bihar developed and self-reliant by 2047, which is spearheaded by senior IPS officer Vikas Vaibhav. On the occasion, 21 big start-ups having generated over 100 job opportunities, were also felicitated. The Pirpanti Thermal Power Plant comprising three units of 800 MW each would be the largest private sector investment in the power sector in Bihar. The Purnea airport is also getting the final touches before its inauguration next month. Choudhary said that after ensuring the basic facilities like roads and electricity, the state was set for a big leap and the aspiring young entrepreneurs would play a key role in the turnaround by taking Bihar towards industrialisation. "We will also provide land and financial incentives to industrialists investing Rs.100-crore for generating adequate employment," he added. Choudhary, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that after state's bifurcation in 2000, Bihar's 87% revenue generation went to Jharkhand and there was a big challenge ahead. "But things started changing since 2005 when NDA government came to power in the state. When I was presenting the 2025 Budget, it was a matter of pride for me, as it was the same state where I had seen Rs.6,000 crore budget being passed and now I was tabling a budget of Rs.327,000-crore, while the Budget of Jharkhand, which had 87% revenue in 2000, is Rs.140,000-crore," he said. Choudhary said that the turnaround of Bihar was for anyone to see and now it would soon have a chain of smaller and bigger airports to give a boost to tourism. "Within a fortnight, PM Modi will inaugurate the Purnea airport also and more is in the pipeline. We are also planning to start international flights from Bihar," he added. He said that the Kosi river was once called the "sorrow of Bihar", but today due to proper flood management and strengthening of embankment, water management had turned it into a blessing. "Bihar is ready for industrialisation also due to better communication through road, rail and air. The dense population of Bihar was seen as a handicap, but now Narendra Modi has made it an advantage as a big consuming state providing a big market and higher share in GST. Now, Bihar needs a wave of entrepreneurship to arrest migration and further fuel its economy by generating employment," he added....