Bihar: NH 922 Expansion Brings Commuter Ease Alongside Toll Hike Considerations from Buxar to Patna

Patna – After the conversion of NH 922 into a four-lane highway, the journey from Buxar to Patna has become more convenient. Future plans to expand the remaining part from Bihta to Danapur into four lanes are underway, promising further comfort for travelers, albeit with an expected increase in toll charges. Currently, toll tax is levied at two locations from Buxar to Koilwar, and a toll plaza is proposed between Bihta and Danapur.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), through consultancy, has developed a route map and DPR for this route. According to documents on the Bhoomi Rashi portal, the road will commence by connecting to the Digha-AIIMS elevated corridor east of Danapur Railway Station. Most of this stretch will be elevated, primarily following the old alignment with new roads planned at three locations.

Elevated sections of 1.800 km in Kanhauli and Akhtiyarpur, as well as 1.300 km in Neoraganj, will run south of the existing road. A toll plaza is scheduled between Hungama World and Bihta Chowk, spanning from 14.700 to 16.700 kilometers from Danapur. Additionally, about two kilometers of the road will be at grade surface, featuring its toll plaza, totaling approximately 20 kilometers.

From Koilwar, the road, which has been converted into four lanes for about one kilometer towards Bihta, encounters a hurdle in land acquisition between Bihta and Danapur. In the initial plan, this stretch was intended to be widened on the surface like the Koilwar to Buxar section. However, due to the high value of land near Patna, landowners were hesitant to relinquish their property.

Instead of acquiring the land, the state government proposed to NHAI to construct an elevated road in this section, despite the increased costs. However, the need for land acquisition is expected to be minimized. The land acquisition process for the new alignment is yet to be completed, and after the previous agency selected in the tender failed to commence work, the process is being revisited in the current selection phase.