Patna: A 143.529-km stretch connecting Khagaria and Purnia has been approved for four-laning at an estimated cost of Rs 3,936.05 crore. The project covers sections of National Highway-31 and National Highway-231 and will pass through Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia districts.
The project will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) model. It is aimed at addressing geometric deficiencies, sharp curves and congestion in populated areas along the existing corridor.
Purnia Bypass Included
A 6.729-km greenfield bypass will be constructed for Purnia city as part of the project. The upgrade is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on the existing route.
According to the project details, the upgraded corridor is expected to increase average vehicle speeds and bring travel time on the route down to about two hours. The improvements are also expected to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs while strengthening road safety.
Connectivity To Economic And Logistics Hubs
The corridor will improve access to five economic centres and 11 logistics hubs identified under the PM Gati Shakti programme. These include a textile cluster, two mega food parks, two fisheries and seafood parks, four major railway stations and an airport.
The project will also connect the corridor with four national highways — NH-27, NH-13, NH-131A and NH-231 — along with State Highways 95 and 77.
Access To Airports And Railway Stations
The upgraded road will improve connectivity to Purnia Airport and railway stations in Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia.
The government has said the improved corridor will facilitate the movement of passengers and goods and support activities in agriculture, trade, industry and tourism across the region.
Employment During Construction
The project is also expected to generate employment during its construction phase. According to government estimates, it will create around 32.59 lakh direct and 40.55 lakh indirect man-days of employment.
The four-laning project is expected to strengthen road infrastructure and improve regional connectivity across north-eastern Bihar while supporting movement between key economic, transport and logistics centres
