The fate of the Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced for Bihar in August 2015 remains a mystery.

"The state finance department has no record of how much of that money has been given," finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui said. "So far as I am concerned, we have not received a single paise. Money is being spent on ongoing projects. We want the Union finance minister, Arun Jaitley, to specify the amount given to Bihar under this head." Siddiqui also recalled that he had raised the issue at the pre-budget meeting of finance ministers in New Delhi on January 4.

Economists like Shaibal Gupta expressed hope that the Union budget will give Bihar "the long-promised package". But given the economic slowdown predicted in the growth rate, there are strong doubts. "Bihar will be lucky if the Centre gives the remaining Backward Regions Grant Fund of around Rs 4,800 crore," said another economist, stressing that there wasn't much hope of gaining substantial funds from the PM's package.

Speaking in Ara on August 18, 2015, while campaigning for Assembly elections later that year, the PM had, in a dramatic manner, announced a Rs 1.25 lakh crore special economic package for the state. Finance minister Jaitley had later clarified that the funds would be allotted from the Union budget. He did not, however, set a time frame for the same. Even after the BJP lost Bihar, Jaitley stressed that the special package was on.

The Prime Minister's promised package was for infrastructure - roads, bridges, railways petrochemicals, education. A major chunk of the fund, Rs 54,713 crore, was earmarked for roads and Rs 21,476 crore for petroleum and gas. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had then alleged that previous governments had approved a major chunk of the package Modi promised and only Rs 11,000 crore was for new projects.

In the past year, the Centre has assisted projects, like revamping of Gandhi Setu and the new airport. But no money has flowed into projects like a super thermal plant in Banka and revival of the fertiliser industry in Barauni.

Siddiqui's predecessor and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said the package the Prime Minister promised wasn't meant for the government. "The work and funds were to be spent by central government agencies. In many cases, state government was supposed to provide land, which it has failed to do like in the case of Vikramshila University," Sushil said.

"All the projects under the Prime Minister's package are under different stages of implementation. Revamping of Gandhi Setu, Patna-Ara road and airport, all fall under the package. Sushil added that that his successor as finance minister had not done his homework.