Patna: The Munger-Mirza Chowki four-lane highway is expected to become fully operational by June 30, with finishing work currently in its final phase.
Built at a cost of Rs. 3,792 crore, the 124.41-km highway is being developed as a greenfield corridor connecting Munger to Mirza Chowki near the Jharkhand border.
Officials said the project is likely to significantly reduce travel time between the two locations from the current four to five hours to around two hours.
Improved connectivity across eastern Bihar
The corridor will improve road connectivity from Munger through Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, Ghogha, Kahalgaon and Pirpainti to Mirza Chowki.
Authorities expect the new route to ease traffic congestion and improve movement of passengers and goods across the region.
The highway is also expected to support industrial and economic activity in eastern Bihar by strengthening transport infrastructure.
Part of larger east-west highway network
Once operational, the corridor will form part of a broader four-lane highway network stretching around 430 km along the southern side of the Ganga river, from Mirza Chowki near the Jharkhand border to Buxar near the Uttar Pradesh border.
The Munger-Mirza Chowki section is currently in the final stages of completion, while work on the proposed Mokama-Munger four-lane corridor is yet to begin.
Existing four-lane connectivity is already operational between Mokama, Bakhtiyarpur and Patna. Construction is also underway on an elevated road project from Patna to Bihta along the Sone river corridor.
Further west, the Koilwar-Ara-Buxar highway is already open for traffic.
Project executed in four packages
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began work on the project in 2022.
The highway construction was divided into four packages. Package-III received the highest allocation at RS. 1,017 crore, followed by Rs. 981 crore for Package-I, Rs. 902 crore for Package-II and Rs. 892 crore for Package-IV.
The total approved project cost stands at Rs. 3,792 crore.
Bhagalpur-Mirza Chowki two-lane road also nearing completion
Officials said construction of a separate two-lane road between Bhagalpur and Mirza Chowki is also expected to be completed within two months.
The road, approximately 10 metres wide, is intended to improve local traffic movement and reduce congestion in the area.
The earlier road linking Bhagalpur and Mirza Chowki was damaged during floods in 2018.
Mokama-Munger corridor planned
The proposed Mokama-Munger four-lane corridor remains under planning.
The project will cover 82.40 km and is expected to cost around Rs. 4,447 crore, according to official estimates.
