Patna, March 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the nerve centre of India's development lies in the eastern parts of the country, especially Bihar.

"It is my conviction to change the face of Bihar if we want a developed India," Modi said in his 30-minute speech at the inauguration of the newly constructed Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge in Hajipur in Vaishali district, near Patna.

"Bihar's development is mandatory for the country's development," he said, adding that his government views it as a priority that Bihar gets development as it is the key to the country's progress.

"We have to develop infrastructure including rail and roads in the state because they have the strength to not only lay the foundation for development but also accelerate growth," he said.

Modi said there was need for the Centre and the state government to work together, shoulder to shoulder, to usher in development in Bihar.

Modi dedicated to the nation the newly constructed Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge and inaugurated a new rail bridge in Munger.

He also flagged off the operation of goods trains on the newly constructed rail portion of Munger rail-cum-road bridge from Sahebpur Kamal end in Bihar's Begusarai district.