Bhagalpur: A long-delayed highway project in Bihar is set to restart after authorities approved a revised plan to reduce land acquisition and lower construction costs.
The construction of the 70 km Bhagalpur-Hansdiha four-lane road, stalled for two years due to land disputes, will now move forward after a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to headquarters. Officials confirmed that the road width will be narrowed in certain stretches, cutting the need for private land acquisition.
Where earlier the road was designed to be 55–60 metres wide, it will now be restricted to 50–55 metres. The width of the service road has also been reduced to 5.5 metres from 7 metres. This change means fewer houses will be demolished, and compensation payouts will be lower.
The original DPR estimated the project cost at Rs 971 crore, with Rs 150 crore earmarked for land acquisition. The revised plan is expected to cut land compensation costs by about Rs 35–40 crore, bringing it down to Rs 105 crore. The overall construction expenditure is also projected to fall by Rs 50–60 crore.
Officials highlighted that the revised design balances development with local concerns, especially in areas such as Sanjha, Rajaun, and Punasia, where residents had opposed large-scale acquisition.
The project is expected to improve connectivity between Bhagalpur and Hansdiha, a key route for regional trade and travel, once the new tendering process is completed.
