Patna: Direct connectivity between Bihar and the Purvanchal Expressway network is moving closer to completion, with the 17.27-km Buxar Spur now around 80–85% complete.
According to Piyush Agarwal, Project Director, NHAI Azamgarh, efforts are underway to make the spur operational by December.
The spur forms Package-4 of the Ghazipur-Ballia-Manjhighat Greenfield Corridor. Trial runs on the 34-km Package-1 section began on October 1, shifting attention to the remaining works on the Buxar connection.
Rs 617.89-Crore Project
The Buxar Spur will connect the main greenfield corridor near Karimuddinpur with Bharauli and the approach road to the Ganga bridge at Buxar.
The 17.270-km project has an estimated cost of Rs 617.89 crore. Its original completion deadline was June 14, 2025.
Once operational, the route is expected to reduce the travel distance by about 15 km and save around 45 minutes on journeys towards Azamgarh, Ayodhya, Lucknow and Delhi.
The planned road will allow vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h, subject to applicable traffic regulations and road conditions.
Alternative To Congested NH-31 Route
At present, vehicles travelling from Buxar towards Ghazipur and the Purvanchal Expressway use the existing NH-31 route through Bharauli, Kundesar and Bhanwarkol.
The route is prone to congestion because of narrow sections and heavy freight movement. Traffic delays can become particularly severe during peak periods.
The new spur will provide a direct alternative, allowing traffic from Buxar to reach the main greenfield corridor without depending on the existing congested route.
The main carriageway is largely ready, while work continues on bridge approaches, including a four-lane road over bridge of about 205 metres near Karimuddinpur.
Project Timeline
2022: Project packages and Detailed Project Report approved
June 15, 2023: Appointed Date for the Buxar Spur
June 14, 2025: Original completion target
December 2026: Target for making the Buxar Spur operational
Four Packages Cover 134 Km
The wider project comprises a 117.12-km main greenfield corridor and the 17.27-km Buxar Spur, taking the planned network to about 134 km.
The four packages are:
Hridaypur-Shahpur: 42.5 km
Shahpur-Pindari: 35.65 km
Pindari-Revelganj Bypass: 38.97 km
Buxar Spur: 17.27 km
The completed network will strengthen road connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while providing parts of western and north Bihar with improved access to the Purvanchal Expressway.
Traffic from Buxar towards Bhojpur and Patna will also have a new route towards the Lucknow-Delhi corridor, while the Saran region will connect through the main greenfield route.
Third Ganga Bridge Under Construction
Another major component of the Buxar connectivity plan is a new three-lane bridge over the Ganga.
Buxar currently has the old Veer Kunwar Singh Setu, built in 1965 and restricted to light vehicles because of its condition, and a two-lane bridge commissioned in 2022–23.
The newer bridge can also experience congestion, with vehicle-checking arrangements on both the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh sides contributing to delays, according to the project details.
To address the bottleneck, NHAI Patna is constructing a new three-lane bridge of about 3.2 km, along with an elevated approach road.
Construction began in September 2025, and around 30% of the work has been completed. The project is targeted for completion by February 2028.
