Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the ''Kosi Rail Mahasetu'' and a slew of other rail projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore for Bihar and hit out at the previous UPA government for the "slow" progress in the development of railways in the state during its rule.

Modi dedicated the ''Kosi Rail Mahasetu'' to the nation and inaugurated through video conference new railway lines and electrification projects in the state.

The prime minister has in the past few days inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a number of development projects for Bihar, which is slated to go to polls in October-November.

Speaking at the virtual event, Modi said that "new history" has been created in the field of rail connectivity in Bihar as projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore like the inauguration of the Kosi Mahasetu, Kiul Bridge and a dozen other job creating projects have been launched.

The Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) is 1.9-km long and its construction cost is about Rs 516 crore. This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border.

These projects will not only strengthen Bihar''s rail network but also strengthen West Bengal and eastern India’s rail connectivity, he said.

The Kosi rail project was the ''dream project'' of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then railway minister Nitish Kumar, but after the Vajpayee government, the speed of the project slowed down, Modi said.

"In 2003, Atal ji was prime minister and Nitish ji railway minister when the new Kosi rail line was conceptualised with an aim to solve the problems being faced by the people of Mithila and Kosi," Modi said.