Patna: The Bihar cabinet has approved the construction of a 336-km greenfield expressway linking Buxar with Bhagalpur, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,700 crore. The tender process for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been completed.
The expressway will not pass directly through Patna but will provide access to the project through Jehanabad, which is already connected to the state capital by a four-lane national highway.
Route To Cover 13 Districts
The proposed expressway will begin at Buxar and follow a greenfield alignment through Bhojpur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Jamui and Banka before reaching the outskirts of Bhagalpur.
The project will create new road connectivity in areas where seamless links between these districts have been limited. Existing roads will also be connected to the expressway at several locations.
From Buxar, the alignment will move towards Bhojpur and Arwal before continuing through Jehanabad and Gaya. It will then connect the districts of Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Jamui and Banka.
Jehanabad To Provide Access From Patna
Jehanabad is expected to be the nearest access point to the expressway for people travelling from Patna.
The existing four-lane national highway between Patna and Jehanabad will be linked to the proposed expressway, allowing vehicles from Patna to access the greenfield corridor without the expressway itself entering the state capital.
The connection is also expected to improve access between Jehanabad and Gaya. Further road links will connect Gaya with districts including Nalanda, Nawada and Sheikhpura.
Proposed Link With Purvanchal Expressway
The project also includes plans to connect the Buxar-Bhagalpur Greenfield Expressway with Uttar Pradesh’s Purvanchal Expressway.
The proposed link could provide the 13 districts along the Bihar corridor with improved road connectivity towards Uttar Pradesh and onward access to Delhi through the Purvanchal network.
The improved connectivity is expected to support the movement of passengers and goods between southern and eastern Bihar and northern India.
Expressway Planned Under PPP Model
The Buxar-Bhagalpur expressway is proposed to be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Under the proposed arrangement, a private company will invest in construction and recover costs through toll collection from vehicles using the expressway.
The corridor is intended to strengthen road connectivity between southern and eastern Bihar while linking several districts with the wider national road network.
